Following the decision of the competent expert panel, the list of Hungarian astronaut candidates has been narrowed down to four, one of whom may participate in a 30-day research mission on the International Space Station (ISS) in late 2024 or early 2025, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced on his Facebook page on Saturday.
The head of the ministry reported that there were thousands of people interested in the program announced as part of the new government space strategy, the aim of which is to get Hungarian astronauts into outer space again. As a result, approximately 240 people submitted their applications, who underwent various tests and examinations at the base of the European Space Agency, at Semmelweis University and at the Hungarian Institute of Energy Sciences, he informed.
Péter Szijjártó Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Photo: MTI/Tibor Illyés
He explained that after a long selection procedure, only eight remained, and they were further tested at the Kecskemét Air Base of the Hungarian Armed Forces with the help of fighter pilots. As a result, the panel of experts narrowed the list down to four people the day before, he added.
In cooperation with the European Space Agency and the American Axiom Space Inc., the chosen one will take part in a thirty-day research mission on the ISS at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025, where he will test Hungarian space instruments and conduct experiments for Hungarian research groups. Péter Szijjártó announced that next year those involved will undergo further training and tests in order to make a fully informed decision at the end of the process.
In any case, the next year or so will be particularly exciting for these four astronaut candidates, and we are excited to see who will be the best of them in the end."
he said.
In this regard, the minister emphasized that all forecasts indicate that the space industry will be one of the most dynamically developing industries of the 21st century, and that Hungary also wants to take part in this, which is why the new national research-astronaut program was announced as part of the Hungarian space strategy.
He pointed out: Perhaps surprisingly for many, Hungary has serious traditions in this field, our country has a globally recognized technical performance in the space industry. "And we must not forget that we are among the nations that have already given the world a research astronaut," said Farkas, referring to Bertalan.
Source: origo.hu
Our opening image is an illustration. Source: AFP
