The brand new Hungarian astronaut has been chosen: Tibor Kapu stands out as the individual Hungary sends into outer house once more after many many years, whereas the reserve astronaut Gyula Cserényi will full the final part of the coaching. The HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) nationwide analysis astronaut program is a component of the Hungarian house technique adopted in 2021, and its objective is to ship a Hungarian astronaut aboard the Worldwide Area Station (ISS).
The 32-year-old Tibor Kapu has a level in mechanical engineering, to date he has largely labored within the automotive trade, and primarily handled battery improvement. You’ll be required to carry out eight scientific experiments aboard the ISS in the course of the thirty days you’re there. His backup, 35-year-old Gyula Cserényi, is initially {an electrical} engineer.
They’ve already undergone severe coaching
The 4 astronaut candidates had been offered on the Ministry of International Affairs in March of final 12 months: along with Tibor Kapu and Gyula Cserényi, design engineer András Szakály and dr. Ádám Schlégl can be an orthopedic surgeon.
“The choice was a slightly prolonged course of, however all of the professionals who’ve participated in this system have gained lots of expertise in themselves,” Orsolya Ferencz, Commissioner for Area Analysis, informed Telex after the number of Tibor Kapu. – The appliance interval ended on January 31, 2022, greater than 240 folks utilized validly, of which the most effective hundred, the most effective forty-four, twenty-five, then the most effective eight, after which 4 had been chosen fairly rapidly.”
Within the first coaching part, the candidates had been launched to the essential data of house analysis, the actions of the house companies, and the mission, and within the second part, they bought an perception into the disciplines needed in the course of the journey – house dynamics, rocket principle, physiology. Within the third part of the coaching, the candidates acquired profession-specific data, for instance, concerning the Worldwide Area Station, and in addition bought concerned in analysis and improvement work.
They had been examined by the Hungarian Air Pressure on the base in Kecskemét, and beneath the steering of the Counter-Terrorism Middle (TEK) and Semmelweis College, in addition they took half in a six-day isolation coaching, the aim of which was to arrange them for house journey. The latter happened in a 48 sq. meter container facility: the room was designed in order that the candidates might expertise the challenges they may face in the course of the journey. Thus, they needed to perform their day by day work, cleansing, sleeping and consuming beneath very particular situations. They had been capable of prepare within the facility, and in a separate workspace they labored on modeling scientific experiments, resembling pharmaceutical and supplies science experiments, 3D printing, and radio engineering and fluid circulation experiments.
Every of the astronaut candidates acquired their small plane pilot’s license, in November 2023 in addition they accomplished aerobatic workout routines, throughout their bodily preparation they took half in swimming workout routines, and a dietitian monitored their vitamin. Through the winter in the USA, they bought to know the modules and units of the house station with the assistance of a life-size mannequin, however they had been additionally skilled in first assist in a microgravity atmosphere.
“The coaching itself was a part of the choice, as a result of the candidates had been screened in a number of rounds. The candidates underwent bodily, medical, psychological, skilled, communication, problem-solving and persona exams. Based mostly on these, the specialists analyzed greater than fifty elements, so {that a} appreciable quantity of documentation was collected about every candidate,” stated Orsolya Ferencz.
The European Area Company (ESA) participated within the course of, and there have been levels within the choice course of that had been led by ESA or American specialists, resembling colleagues from Axiom Area. “Now, the astronaut candidates had been lately in Houston for a multi-directional acceleration take a look at, the place the American colleagues made very detailed exams of them. The Semmelweis College crew carried out and nonetheless performs very severe duties in this system, together with testing health and bodily and psychological endurance, in addition to compiling the meal program. The Counter-Terrorism Middle and Semmelweis College cooperated within the isolation program. Within the land and water coaching phases, the Hungarian Protection Forces and the Air Pressure carried out a really severe process with the Gripens. The top of that is {that a} rating of 4 wonderful candidates – and I am not saying this out of politeness, that is additionally the opinion of the worldwide crew – needed to be established, which occurred final evening,” stated Orsolya Ferencz.
The number of Tibor Kapu was due to this fact based mostly on an extended and sophisticated set of standards, and the overseas groups additionally gave suggestions for the ultimate choice. “Hungarian specialists had been additionally capable of symbolize added worth, to incorporate new examination elements and examination levels in this system, which had been positively acquired by the worldwide companions and significantly aroused their curiosity. This was the case each with influenza testing and the screening program of Semmelweis College. That is a global, however nonetheless nationwide program, it represents added worth in Hungarian scientific life,” stated the federal government commissioner.
He could possibly be a Hungarian in house once more this 12 months
The subsequent part of the undertaking awaits Tibor Kapu and Gyula Cserényi: they may each journey to the USA and proceed their coaching, Axiom Area and NASA will present the framework for this. In response to Orsolya Ferencz, the connection with the American companions is superb, and the specialists obtain the best degree, {most professional} skilled assist.
“And people candidates who haven’t been chosen now, as they’ve additionally carried out very effectively, have the chance to proceed their participation in this system as senior members of the bottom management crew. Up to now greater than a 12 months, they’ve really cast right into a neighborhood of pals,” stated the Area Analysis Commissioner.
It’s nonetheless not solely sure when precisely the Hungarian astronaut can go to the Worldwide Area Station: Orsolya Ferencz expects the launch to be within the second half of 2024 or the start of 2025, however this largely is determined by when NASA consists of this system within the launch window. “This can even be finalized quickly. As quickly as this occurs on the American aspect, we are going to, after all, instantly announce it, however Hungary has no affect on this.”
Tibor Kapu will perform varied experiments on board the ISS, together with medical science, house physiology, pharmaceutical analysis, and exams associated to plant cultivation and vitamin. The functions for a few of the researches had been closed at the start of the 12 months, so the choice and choice about what precisely shall be included in this system remains to be happening. As a licensed astronaut of the European Area Company, the Hungarian astronaut is anticipated to take part within the implementation of ESA’s experiments. The astronaut will then be examined even after his return to search out out what impact the time spent in house had on his physique, all of his parameters are thought of scientific outcomes. The ministerial commissioner additionally stated earlier that they might additionally like to incorporate the brand new Hungarian astronaut in secondary faculty schooling all through the Carpathian basin.
Orsolya Ferencz beforehand stated that an astronaut’s working hours (ie the worth of his work) shall be roughly 144,000 {dollars}, i.e. 50 million forints, however this will likely improve or lower relying on the duty, for instance, a spacewalk is costlier than time spent in a analysis laboratory. Astronaut time is so costly that “lots of people are already on the lookout for us on this matter, if there’s nonetheless a while out there, then they want the Hungarian astronaut to work on their experiment as effectively”, stated Ferencz, who says that “it is a fascinating, a little bit of a market world as effectively”.
The ministerial commissioner considers safety coverage and the sustainable use of outer house to be one of the crucial necessary problems with the twenty first century. They need to focus not solely on house analysis, but additionally on the appliance of its outcomes, since in response to the European Area Company, the cash invested in it may be repaid six occasions, he stated.
