The Polish space industry is currently not gigantic, but it is developing dynamically. Polish companies design and build satellites. A mission to the Moon (an advanced research satellite) is planned. Any day now, a test of the Polish suborbital rocket – Perun will take place. It is happening, and as time goes on, it will only happen more.
Poland has a chance to become a space power
Artur Chmielewski, a Pole working at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory – one of the NASA laboratories, says that due to technological progress are currently needed, small spaceships, and Polish scientists are great and could build them.
In his opinion, Poles have a chance to become a space power – among others due to the changes that have taken place in the world of space missions, as well as changes in the equipment itself, e.g. spacecraft.
He said that initially spacecraft were huge, weighing several tons and costing billions of dollars. The Perservance rover alone, sent to Mars, cost $2.5 billion.
“Now that has changed. Now you can build small spaceships, and they are needed. Even the telephone – it used to be a computer that took up the room. I have it in my pocket now” added.
Lessons for Poland on the example of NASA activities
A Polish expert working at NASA quoted on the website Naukawpolsce explains that the American government has developed a simple rule – NASA does the most difficult things for the first time, builds prototypes and the first copies of a spacecraft or instrument – something that the industry cannot afford due to the great risk for the entire project budget.
– NASA needs to lower that risk. Build the first example of a spaceship, an instrument, a new technology, and then we hand it over to the industry. Let them make money on it – explains Chmielewski.
“I hope that Poles understand this. And if not – it’s worth thinking about. It’s not like space is an expense of money. Why money goes to space and not to the construction of nurseries. It’s not like one competes with the other. In the construction of spaceships, missions – inventions are made. These inventions are then implemented in the economy, new companies are created, new products, everything pays off. Space drives the entire economy of the United States. For example, my NASA center (Jet Propulsion Laboratory – ed. note) gets $250 million a year for licensing, for participation in companies, for selling inventions that are implemented and generate income.
How to invest and why it is worth investing
“This money must go to the development of technology – and only when this technology is almost ready, you can think about the mission. So it’s not just about the size of the budget – but also that the budget should go evenly. Let there be money. AND this money is slowly returning, new companies are opening, growing, a stronger economy is emerging with jobs for these new people– says Artur Chmielewski in an interview.
There is no shortage of programmers, scientists and engineers in Poland
“But we want them to do it all here in Poland. I don’t encourage young people to come to NASA, but to work in companies here. Unfortunately, it must start with the government, because the risk associated with the development and construction of the first spacecraft is high. He cannot do without such a grant (government – PAP) no company will allow it. Everyone says about Space X: great company, they launch rockets every week. Elon Musk – charisma, great company. But wouldn’t exist if NASA didn’t give them a $2 billion contract when their second rocket blew up. The government must help. And then the government gets it back in the form of jobs, new inventions, new companies. People work there, pay taxes – and it pays off.”
Poles can build small spaceships.
The expert explains that it’s about sending small missions to Mars that cost less.
“Because NASA believes that Polish scientists are great, that they could build these small spacecraft – therefore NASA agreed that it could even be a Polish mission to Mars with the participation of NASA. We are talking with the Polish Space Agency, we are talking with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory – where I work, what are the greatest competences of both parties, how can we build this mission together. We are looking for money for this from the Polish side. As soon as they come, it will go forwardChmielewski added.
A technology giant with a billion-dollar investment in Poland. Thousands of new jobs will be created
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2023-06-18 14:36:20
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