Hungary-Russia space projects, selection of Hungarian astronaut to start

Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó on Friday signed agreements with the director of Russian state space research company Roscosmos about the launch of Hungary-Russia space research projects and the selection and training of a Hungarian astronaut to be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024-2025.

“Ongoing space projects that include Hungarian technological value added will be officially recognised as Hungarian-Russian space research projects,” Szijjártó told MTI.

“We have jointly set the target of Hungary-Russia space research and space technology cooperation to have a Hungarian astronaut start work at the International Space Station by 2024-2025,” he said.

“The selection and training procedure will be started without delay,” he added.

Currently three space research projects under way in Russia involve Hungarian technological vaue added, basically producing micro-satellite fleets and new equipment for the ISS.

“We are now officially making these projects into joint space research and space technology projects, also increasing Hungarian contribution in terms of volume and also value added,” he said.

“This represents a fantastic opportunity for Hungarian space industry,” he added.

Szijjártó said “Hungarian space industry might sound like belonging to the category of science-fiction for the time being because we don’t talk about it much.”