Role of future Hungarian astronaut in space outlined

It is not yet certain which of the four men picked in the tough selection process will go into space to represent Hungary, but their role has already been outlined.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced that the future Hungarian astronaut will carry out his mission together with the US company Axiom Space, the details of which the Minister discussed with the company’s CEO. The designated astronaut will carry out 8 selected scientific experiments outside the Earth’s atmosphere over 31 days, which have been defined in cooperation with Hungarian universities, and will also carry 12 pieces of Hungarian-developed instruments into space.

The list of 244 astronaut candidates was narrowed down over months of selection processes, so that development engineer Tibor Kapu, electrical engineer Gyula Cserényi, design engineer András Szakály, and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ádám Schlégl will start their final training. According to the HUNOR (Hungarian Orbit) program, the selection process took into account not only commitment and physical aptitude but also personality balance, the ability to make quick and accurate decisions under stress, resourcefulness, and constructive teamwork. Who will be in the spacecraft for the launch scheduled for around 2024-25 will be decided shortly before the mission. The winner will embark on a 31-day journey, spending most of the time on the International Space Station, featured in the cover photo of this article.

Source: Telex
Cover photo: NASA via ESA

• strategy
• Hungarian space program
• International Space Station
• space exploration