Historic day: Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu leaves for International Space Station, takes a few Hungaricums with him – PHOTO GALLERY
Hungarian Astronaut Tibor Kapu, as one of a crew of four, has left the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the International Space Station on board of the SpaceX Crew Dragon space ship on Wednesday morning.
Kapu will reach the International Space Station tomorrow
The mission, organised by Axiom Space, SpaceX, and NASA, is planned to take 14 days and is headed by US astronaut Peggy Whitson. The two other crew members are India’s Shubhanshu Shukla and Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski. With the current mission, Hungary is sending its second astronaut to space, with Bertalan Farkas having visited the Salyut-6 space station in 1980 as the first one.
The crew is scheduled to complete nearly 60 scientific experiments during their journey for 31 countries, with special regard to the study of micro-gravity in low Earth orbit. The experiments will also include ones in the areas of cancer and diabetes research. Fully 25 experiments will be completed under Hungary’s HUNOR scientific programme to learn more about space and its impacts on humans and various materials.
The spaceship is scheduled to reach the ISS early on Thursday morning.
Kapu took some Hungarikums to space
According to index.hu, Bertalan Farkas, Hungary’s very first astronaut who spent several unforgettable days in space back in 1980, not only gave Kapu invaluable advice but was also present during the thrilling launch.
Adding a nostalgic touch, Kapu brought along Farkas’s beloved “evening cartoon bear” (known in Hungarian as Tévémaci), a cherished symbol of Hungary in the 1980s and 1990s. Not familiar with this iconic character? Don’t worry! Check out the video below to meet him:
But that’s not all! Kapu also packed some true Hungarian treasures (or Hungarikums) for his space journey. Among them were a specially crafted Stühmer space chocolate, the fiery Erős Pista chilli sauce, and the legendary Piros Arany, both beloved flavour enhancers that astronauts crave during long missions far from home. These little pieces of Hungary took a taste of home to the vastness of space.
PM Orbán is happy and proud
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Facebook that Hungary sending another astronaut to space was a “huge honour” and wished Kapu success on his mission.
Logging in after take-off, Kapu said he was “grateful and proud to represent Hungary”. “Fifteen million people have helped me … you support is like embers under the ash, quietly glowing but unifying in flames when fueled … your voice is louder than our rocket and your strength is greater than gravity … I thank everybody across the world that have contributed to this wonderful day.”
According to SpaceX, the crew will conduct more than 60 scientific experiments and technology demonstrations, focusing on human research, Earth observation, biological studies, and material sciences during their mission aboard the ISS, Anadol News Agency wrote.
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