Sławosz Uznański joined the European Astronaut Corps in September this year. He is the second Pole in history who had the opportunity to fly into Earth’s orbit (the first was Miroslaw Hermaszewski in 1978 on board the Soviet ship Sogosh-30). Its journey may take place in the second half of 2024.
The Polish scientist is currently training at the European Astronaut Center (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. – Training will also take place in Florida, where rockets are launched to the International Space Station, and at SpaceX headquarters in California, where we will learn the details of operating the Dragon ship. He explains that the last place for such training will be Japan, where we will learn about the Japanese experimental module on the International Space Station.
Slavosz Oznański. Who is the Polish astronaut?
The pole has not yet been assigned a specific space mission. But we know how to get to the International Space Station. – The only possibility of flight for Europeans is the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Above it there will be a capsule with four astronauts – describes Oznansky.
He adds: – We do not currently use the Russian sector on the International Space Station, and it is also possible that I will not have a training unit on the Russian side. In space, I will mainly move around the European and American parts.
The European Space Agency (ESA) operates its Columbus module on the orbiting station. This is where the Polish astronaut will conduct scientific research that could be a driving force for the local space sector.
He explains: – Poland is a member of the European Space Agency, and it can be said that we partly own it as well. Thanks to the agency’s increased contribution in August this year, we also have the possibility of conducting experiments on the International Space Station. Polish research institutes and the private sector will have access to in-orbit experiments. 8 of which are currently under construction at an advanced stage. However, in the case of the Ten, negotiations are still ongoing.
In August this year, Poland increased its membership rate in the European Space Agency. This amounts to an additional 295 million euros, which translates to about PLN 1.3 billion.
Sławosz Uznański talks about preparations for a space flight
More than 22.5 thousand people applied for the latest recruitment of new astronauts at the European Space Agency. People not only from European countries. In the end, 5 astronauts and 12 reserve astronauts were selected. Sławosz Uznański was in the last group.
– I was born on April 12, which is the anniversary of Gagarin’s flight into space (it is also World Manned Spaceflight Day – editor). While continuing my studies and choosing my PhD topic, I always thought about the space sector. I worked for the largest satellite and space station builder. I waited many years for the astronaut recruitment process to begin, because I knew I would definitely apply. He stressed that this recruitment did not take place between 2008 and 2022, that is, for a period of 14 years.
The scientist’s determination has borne fruit and passed a dense sieve of careful medical and psychological tests. Sławosz has already begun to wonder what he will take into orbit as part of his one-kilogram hand luggage.
-I will definitely take pictures of my family and my favorite places on earth. I hope I can take some Polish food into orbit and share it with other astronauts. Maybe it will be Christmas or Easter, when this culinary part is important for us – sums up.
In addition to scientific experiments, Oznansky hopes that during his stay in space he will have the opportunity to give demonstration lessons to pupils and students. In this way, he wants to promote manned spaceflight and perhaps find another Polish astronaut.
Source: Radio Zeit
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