Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has re-appeared in public for the first time after a three-day break due to illness.
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Speaking at an event featuring locally developed defence technology products in Istanbul, Erdogan revealed the Turkish candidate for the country's first manned mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
Military pilot Alper Gezeravci was chosen to embark on Turkey's first manned space mission in the final quarter of 2023 and is due to stay on the ISS for 14 days, Erdogan told the crowd.
A rocket engineer was selected as a substitute candidate, the president added.
Erdogan often uses ambitious technology and defence projects to promote his re-election.
Accompanied by Azerbaijani President Ilham Alivey and Libya's Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, Erdogan's appearance on Saturday came two weeks ahead of elections.
On May 14, Turkey's roughly 64 million eligible voters will decide on the country's next president as well as the parliament.
On Friday, Erdogan's strongest challenger, opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, had announced plans to establish a space research centre at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport if he wins the election.
Recent polls predict a tight race between Erdogan and Kilicdaroglu.
Australian Associated Press
