Budapest Airport welcomes 2 Hungarian astronauts
“We Hungarians—coming from institutions across the country, from all walks of life and backgrounds, but united by a common goal and sense of duty—have once again shown the world our talent after 45 years,” astronaut Tibor Kapu said on Monday at Budapest Airport upon his return to Hungary.
Tibor Kapu at Budapest Airport: “We earned top marks”
Tibor Kapu participated in the International Space Station mission as part of Axiom-4, during which he conducted 25 scientific experiments. “Hungary achieved years’ worth of development in just two weeks in key areas such as medicine, materials science, radiation measurement, biology, physics, meteorology, and agrarian engineering,” Kapu told a press conference at Budapest Airport today.
“I have only been on Hungarian soil for a few minutes, but I am certain much has changed. Hungary is prouder, more curious, more advanced, and a weightier state than eight months ago. Our posture is a little straighter, our gaze a little higher, and our faces a little more radiant,” Kapu added, following his arrival at Budapest Airport.
“Scientific research, of course, takes time—it will be several months before we can present our results,” he said at Budapest Airport. “But we cannot wait to share them.” According to Kapu, “we earned top marks,” as the success rate of the Hungarian-curated research portfolio exceeded the average success rate of NASA’s own experiments.
Humility, perseverance, ingenuity, and a bit of luck—that’s Hungarian
“Each time I conducted a spectacular or significant experiment aboard the space station, my colleagues up there would say to each other in admiration, ‘Look what the Hungarians brought!’” Kapu recalled. He stressed that this is only the beginning of an exciting new phase, during which researchers across Hungary will evaluate and further develop the experiments, paving the way for the future of space research in the country.
As he put it, “Just as a young man from Nyíregyháza can reach outer space, a small country can make a big impact in one of the world’s most challenging fields of science.” He summed it up: “All it takes is perseverance, humility, ingenuity, and a bit of luck—in other words, to be Hungarian.”
Kapu said the mission marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another in his life—and in the lives of many others. While the previous phase brought countless beautiful moments, it also involved hard work, complications, sacrifices, and setbacks. “I made it through thanks to the love and support of my family, friends, and loved ones,” he said.
Hungary’s first astronaut was there to welcome him
Asked about the moment he first saw Earth after launch, Kapu described it as dazzling. He was struck by how bright and colourful the planet appeared—but said the most emotional moment came when he caught his first glimpse of Hungary.
The astronaut arrived at Budapest Airport aboard a Hungarian Defence Forces aircraft. Upon stepping off the plane, he waved a Hungarian flag. At the airport, he was greeted by Orsolya Ferencz, government commissioner for space research; Péter Sztáray, state secretary for security policy and energy security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; fellow astronaut-in-reserve Gyula Cserényi; and Hungary’s first astronaut, Bertalan Farkas. Family and friends also gathered to welcome him home.
Watch the moment of Kapu’s arrival at Budapest Airport:
Tibor Kapu worked aboard the International Space Station (ISS) from 25 June to 15 July.
Read more about outer space:
- A night you will never forget: dozens of shooting stars and planetary alignments in the sky in Hungary!
- National Bank issues new forint coin after Hungarian astronaut’s successful mission
For more articles about space exploration, click here.
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