Message from Turkish-born NASA astronaut Deniz Burnham to her fellow citizens of Adana

Adana-born Turkish-American NASA astronaut Deniz Burnham is expected to launch on the first space mission planned for the International Space Station (ISS) in 2027. In a video message released before the mission, Burnham addressed his family in Turkey and fellow residents of Adana.

His family's fascination with space propelled him to the skies.

In his message, Burnham spoke of his childhood years and the space curiosity instilled in him by his family. He described how his grandmother raised him and his family with Turkish cuisine, and noted that his grandfather's interest in space had influenced the entire family.

Burnham said that his grandfather built his own telescope and that he spent much time in their backyard watching stars and planets during his childhood. He added that he was delighted to visit his grandmother and grandfather, who live in Turkey, during his holidays.

I Will Wave from Space

Emphasizing his strong ties to Turkey, Burnham sent a special greeting to his grandmother, grandfather, and fellow residents of Adana at the end of his message. Burnham used the words, 'I will wave from space to my grandmother, my grandfather, my fellow Adana residents, and the whole world.'

The following statements appeared in Deniz Burnham's published video message:

"Now I want to say a few things about myself. My grandmother raised us with delicious Turkish food. My grandfather's fascination with space influenced our entire family. I remember him building his own telescopes. We spent countless hours watching stars and planets in our backyard. My grandmother and grandfather are from Turkey. I love visiting them during my holidays. From space, I will wave to my grandmother, my grandfather, my fellow citizens of Adana, and the whole world."

Journey from Adana to Space

Burnham’s 2027 mission will be his first spaceflight. As part of the mission, Burnham is scheduled to travel to the International Space Station, and in the message he shared, he explained to the world how the space fascination that began in his childhood carried him on a journey from Turkey to space.

Who is Deniz Melissa Burnham?

Deniz Melissa Burnham, born on 1 October 1985 at İncirlik Air Base in Adana, is a Turkish-American NASA astronaut. As the child of a military family, Burnham lived in various places throughout his childhood due to his family's assignments.

Burnham earned a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the University of California, San Diego in 2007, and completed a master's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Southern California in 2017. In the early stages of his career, he worked more than 10 years in the energy sector, especially in oil and natural‑gas drilling operations. He also served as an engineering officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Burnham joined the astronaut class selected by NASA in 2021, began his assignment in January 2022, and completed astronaut training in 2024. Holding a private pilot license, Burnham gained experience with helicopters and fixed‑wing aircraft, as well as in various other flight domains.

Burnham’s first spaceflight is scheduled for March 2027. He is expected to travel to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz MS‑30 and spend 7 months there.