Denied in Turkey

Breaking News --- another report by a major newspaper

Asahi Shimbun, one of the largest newspapers in Japan, published an article entitled "Todai Assistant Professor Claiming an Astronaut Candidate: Reasoning Denied by Turkish Government" on the web and in the November 14th printed issue.

This time, the article explicitly mentions the name "Serkan ANILIR". According to the article, Dr. Anilir had submitted a document issued by Turkish Ministry of Transportation to the University of Tokyo, as an evidence of his claim that he is an astronaut candidate.  (It is not clear from the article when the document was submitted by Dr. Anilir. Maybe during the recent investigation.) However, on November 13th, Asahi Shimbun obtained a written comment from Turkish government that "the document is not issued by Turkish MInistry of Transportation, and the content does not represent the fact".

The article also reports that Dr. Anilir also submitted similar letters which are supposed to be issued by NASA and a Professor in the US who invited him to NASA projects. However, they also denied the authenticity of the letters.

Asahi Shimbun interviewed Dr. Anilir in late October about the suspicion surrounding his astronaut candidate claim. He told the newspaper that he took an astronaut training course, based on an agreement between Turkish Air Force and NASA. He could not speak more details because it is a military matter.

The article also reports the problems with his publication list, which was already published by Nikkei.

Well, misrepresenting career in Japan is one thing (which would be certainly very bad), but fabricating an official document from Turkish government is quite another. Wouldn't it be a criminal offense in Turkey? Maybe Dr. Anilir is feeling so sorry about the problem, that he is cornering himself? An interesting observation is that, apparently he did not submit an "official document" from Turkish Air Force which played part according to his story. (see also this entry.)

Did the Turkish Air Force General recommend Dr. Anilir to NASA for an astronaut candidate?

Response from readers in Turkey indicates that, in Turkey, Armed Forces are very serious and fearful presence. So, I would like to provide more details about what Dr. Anilir told about his relation to Turkish Air Force General in his books.

I am showing images of Pages 15 - 17 from his book "Space Elevator". (See this entry for his books.) The relevant paragraphs, starting at the bottom of Page 15, reads (in Japanese):

その後、研究者としてNASAに行っていたある日、たまたま僕の母国トルコの空軍長が、NASA事業団のトップや米軍関係者と会談にやって来た。その当時のトルコでは、国内初めての宇宙飛行士を輩出しようという世論が盛り上がっていたのだが、一般に宇宙飛行士候補には軍関係者が多く、ほとんどの場合、空軍のパイロットや軍関係の研究者が選ばれるのが慣例だった。

僕もNASAで活躍するトルコ人として、その場に呼ばれ紹介してもらったのだが、特に長い会話をすることもなく、NASAでの研究内容や、過去の学歴など二、三の質問をされ、席を立った。

空軍長直々の推薦で、宇宙飛行士の候補の一人に選ばれた、とトルコから連絡があったのは、日本に帰ってきた後のことだ。

(skip to Page 17)

軍人でもない建築構法専攻の僕が、空軍長の推薦を受けられた理由。それは、スキー選手として国の代表になった実績があり、健康面で有利。空が好きだった一心で、大学時代に取得したパイロットの資格。様々な国に住んでいたから学べた、何か国語もの語学力。そして、宇宙開発に関わる研究をしていることだという。

空軍長という立場にありながら、軍人でもない僕を評価して、候補に加えてくれた彼の姿勢と柔軟な発想には、人間として頭が下がる思いだ。

人と人との出会いが、新しい旅を生み出す。

This may be translated to English as follows:

Later, when I was visiting NASA as a research scientist, it happens that the Air Force General (NOTE: the correct translation may be the Commander of the Air Force -- thanks for the comment) of my home country, Turkey, came to meet the top administration of NASA and people from American Military.

Around that time, in Turkey, there was a movement to produce the first astronaut from the nation. Usually, most of astronaut candidates have military background; it is customary to choose astronauts from Air Force pilots or research scientists at military institutions.

I was introduced at the meeting, as a Turkish national who was active at NASA. However, we did not talk much on the occasion. I left the table, after being asked just a few questions, like subject of my study at NASA and my academic back ground.

It was only after I came back to Japan, that I was notified I was selected as one of the astronaut candidates, thanks to a direct recommendation by the Air Force General.

The reasons why I won the recommendation by the Air Force general, even though I was not from military and was just majoring in architecture, were the following, I heard: My advantage in physical abilities, as I was once a member of Turkish national ski team. My pilot license that was obtained when I was a college student, just because I was fascinated with the sky. My skill in several languages, thanks to my experience of living in various countries. And finally, the fact that I was working on space development.

Even though he is from military, the Air Force General thought highly of me, who was outside the military, and added me to the list of candidates. This shows his fairness and flexible attitude, which I respect very much.

Meeting between people opens the door to new voyage.

Very vivid and moving story, isn't it? :) However, after seeing the questions surrounding the "astronaut candidate" claim, it might look different. The affiliation with NASA is discussed in another entry. The claim that he was a member of Turkish national ski team will be discussed elsewhere -- but did readers from Turkey know about that?!

There is a similar story on another book "The space in your pocket". Here, he also shows a photograph (shown at bottom) with the Air Force general. Although it was attributed to the later date, the caption clearly says the person in the picture is the General who recommended Dr. Anilir for an astronaut candidate. The caption says (in Japanese)

2008年5月14日。中央で後ろを向いているのはトルコの空軍長。僕を宇宙飛行士に推薦してくれた人物だ。イズミール大学で。

May 14th, 2008. The person in the center, showing his back, is Turkish Air Force General. This is the person who recommended me for an astronaut. At Izmir(?) University.

We can imagine how the Turkish Air Force General was proud and happy when he saw Dr. Aniril, who was selected as an astronaut candidate because of his recommendation, in spacesuit with stars and stripes on shoulder.

The apparently same photograph in color (shown below) can be found in his Japanese blog: (dated Dec 9, 2007) http://blog.anilir.net/?eid=622294
Strangely, in his blog, he describes the photo as a scene from "Infra-Free Workshop" at Izmir Economic University, in December 2007 (whereas the photo is dated as May 14th, 2008.) In the blog, he also says that the woman standing next to him is his mother.

According to the comment by Arda Mevlutoglu:
The young man in uniform is an NCO-cadet. He is in his second year in NCO School, hence the Roman numeral "II" just above the crescent and the star figure in the rank insignia. You can also see the letters "M.Y.O.", the abbreviation of "Meslek Yuksek Okulu", which translates as "Occupational High School" (?). M.Y.O is the place where NCO's are trained.

This basically means that, the older man in uniform standing against the camera is basically in charge of the younger man in uniform, i.e NCO-cadets. From this angle and color density, my educated guess is, he is a major, hence the silhouette of his rank symbols on top of his shoulders. He is light years away from being a general and aeons away from being the commander of Turkish Air Force or any other person who is authorized to advise Mr Anilir to any position such as an astronaut!

Turkish Wikipedia entry "Serkan Anilir"

Armagan, a reader from Turkey, kindly took the effort of translating Turkish version of Wikipedia article on Dr. Anilir. As he pointed out (and we were also noticing partially through computer translations), there was a significant difference from what is told in Japan (and in English version of Wikipedia). Of course, anyone can edit Wikipedia so we are not sure who wrote them, but this still suggests an interesting difference between what is told in Turkey and elsewhere. As of writing this, the entry "Serkan Anilir" in Turkish Wikipedia seems to be deleted(?). In any case, I am posting Armagan's valuable contribution with his (her?) permission. We will later discuss the discrepancy from what has been known or told outside Turkey.

---

The Turkish wikipedia entry for Serkan ANILIR: (As last accessed on 6 September, 2009, 4 am) (Anyone may verify my translation indepentently. However, recently - September 2009 onward, please note that there is heavy editing activity on both the Turkish and English wiki articles of Serkan Anilir, which can be tracked on the revision histories of respective language wiki sites. Also, since the publication of blogs in Japan in early September about Dr. Anilir's career, we must expect more overhaul of his encyclopedic info.elsewhere, as well.)

Serkan Anilir (born 22 March 1973) , Turkish scientist, physicist, academician, the first Turkish astronaut candidate, JAXA Technological Development Department President, lecturer at University of Tokyo. Serkan Anilir was born in 1973 in Cologne, Germany. Eldest of a worker family's three children. Graduated from [Istanbul] Yildiz Technical University's Faculty of Architecture in 1996 and was admitted to Germany's Bauhaus Academy during the same year for post graduate [study]. In 1997, entered as assistant to the same university's computerized design department and directed the space station design of European Space [sic. and Aviation] Agency. Realized his engineering graduate study on high technology structures. In 1999, upon invitation from Japan, came for doctoral study to University of Tokyo. The same year, was employed by the Kajima Company's design division, where he directed the design of the 800-meter high DIB200 building, which was planned to be constructed in Japan. Upon reverberations the project brought about, was invited in 2000 to NASA's Space Elevator Study Program and was appointed to head the project during the same year. Two months later, renewed the Space Elevator Project under the name of ATA and headed a group comprised of 58 experts and students at JAXA. To date, played roles in the designh of JAXA's Hayabasu Satellite and the development of the Kibo Module, which is planned to be annexed to the International Space Station. Besides the ATA Space Elevator, prepared annenna designs with his own group for Solar Antennae Project, again one of the most important technology programs of JAXA. The designs prepared as part of the satellite and antennae designs have also been turned into toys by the Bandai company. In May of 2005, gained his assistant professorship [dozent-ship] by designing [accommodation] units, while maintaing the concept of Buildings That Do Not Require Infrastructure - Infra-Free concept, through transferring space technology to the Earth, enabling aid to survivors following natural disasters and permitting habitation in the Third World without any need for infrastructure. Thereby, became the youngest and the only foreign lecturer at the University of Tokyo. In 2004, won Cambridge University's Physics Award by his Space In the 11th Dimension Theorem, which he wrote during his years toward a doctorate degree, and in 2005 the American Medal of Honor for Science and Technology. On the same subject, published his first book in Japan titled Outside of Space. Dr. Anilir, who served as guest professor at Princeton, Hong Kong, Roma, Naples, Munich and Montreal universities, also participates in research in NASA Johnson Space Center and NASA Ames Reseach Center. Having assumed the responsibility of training and technology [operations] of the Design and Engineering Committee at the American Space Aviation Institute [?NASA], Dr. Anilir has more than 100 international publications, and he is included in the Scientists of the Century Encyclopedia published by the Marquis Group. Since 2005, heads the presidency [directorship] of JAXA's technology development and transfer group and serves as an academician at the University of Tokyo. Dr. Anilir is also the first Turkish astronaut canditate, one of [our] select scientists that promote Turkey in the international arena in the field of science and technology. In 2006, has been chosen as the [sic] youngest brain that guides science in Japan. And through his television and radio programs which commenced in 2007, continues to represent our country [Turkey] in the far-east. In 2006, transferred his ATA Space Elevator project to cinematic screen. In 2007, drew and directed the scenes about Infra-Free systems within the 28-part Real Drive animation series, which was broadcast on Nihon Television. In 2008, his third book he wrote in Japan, Time Machine, was also made into a movie, and premiered at EXPO Center in the city of Tsukuba. Dr. Anilir is one of the most recognized foreigners in Japan. Today, continues his endeavours in his country [Turkey] through a project called Let's Become A Scientist For A Day. In 2009, opened his own school called Serkan College in Tokyo and began to give education on advanced technologies.

BOX: Serkan Anilir Birth: 22 March 1973 Cologne, Germany Nationality: Republic of Turkey, Institutes: Kajima Corporation (Tokyo) NASA (Houston) JAXA (Tokyo) University of Tokyo (Tokyo) Tokyo Science University (Tokyo) Tsukuba University (Tsukuba) Princeton University (Princeton) University of Rome (Rome) University of Naples (Napoli) University of Montreal (Quebec) Awards recieved: Spain, Zamora Award (2002) England, Cambridge Physics Award (2004) USA, American Medal of Honor (2005) Japan, Young Scientist Guiding Technology Award (2007)