Turkish student Melih Pulak, 12, demonstrates the multi-axis trainer -- which simulates what it's like to tumble in a spacecraft -- during the opening ceremony of Space Camp Turkey June 12. The camp is located in the Aegean Free Zone in Izmir, Turkey, and is currently open to only Turkish- and English-speaking children. Photo: USAF/Tech. Sgt. Ann Bennett

U.S. Astronaut Scott Carpenter and NASA's Apollo Engineer Ismail Akbay were among those present for the opening of the world's seventh space camp recently.

Located in the Aegean Free Zone, Space Camp Turkey is about a 15-minute drive from Izmir Air Station and offers children a combination of space science education and entertainment.

"The space camp program helps further children's study of mathematics and sciences and teaches children two things," said Carpenter, who flew the second American orbital flight in a Mercury capsule on May 24, 1962. The first is "teamwork, and nothing can be done without teamwork. And more important, the space camp program teaches children about themselves."

Akbay called this a dream come true for his homeland to have the seventh space camp in Turkey.

Carpenter and Akbay were joined by Ramazan Urgancioglu, deputy governor of Izmir, and Kaya Tuncer, president of the Aegean Free Zone and of Space Camp Turkey, in cutting the ribbon for the opening of the camp. A laser light show and demonstrations of the simulators in the camp's training center were part of the opening ceremony.

Also part of the grand opening, a boys' dormitory at the camp was dedicated to Carpenter, who says he is tremendously honored. Also, an exhibition room was dedicated to Akbay, highlighting his achievements during his 31-year career at NASA.

The programs offered at Space Camp Turkey are a five-day Space Camp for ages 9-14, a two-day Outer Space Adventure on the weekend for ages 9-16, a Parent/Child program on weekends where a parent can accompany his child between the ages of 7-11, and three-hour Space Camp Action Tours during the school year for school trips. Next year, the camp will also offer a Space Academy, which is five days long, for those ages 15-16.

During the various programs, children's activities will include participating in simulator rides, conducting shuttle missions from launch to recovery, building and launching rockets, constructing space structures, repairing satellites and more.

The facility has a training center with various simulators such as a multi-axis trainer, spin chair, a zero gravity wall, a mission control room connected to an Orbiter cockpit simulator, and more. It also has a computer lab, a hydroponics lab, and an observatory on the top floor as well as separate dormitories for boys and girls.

"Hopefully, it teaches the kids that space is our destiny," Carpenter said. "Space is not just an adventure for the United States and Russia, space is an adventure for all mankind."

Space Camp Turkey, licensed with the U.S. Space Camp Foundation, is the only space camp in Turkey, the Middle East and southern Europe, and is currently open to only Turkish- and English speaking children. Besides Space Camp Turkey, there are three space camps in the United States (in Alabama, Florida and California), and one each in Canada, Japan and Belgium.

People interested in finding out more information about Space Camp Turkey can check out the camp's Web site or call (country code: 90) 232-252-3500.