HUNGARIAN
SPACEFLIGHT
General Farkas Bertalan as a First Hungarian Astronaut
In 1980, Hungarian pilot General Farkas Bertalan became the first Hungarian astronaut aboard Soyuz 36. As part of the Soviet Interkosmos program, he spent eight days on the Salyut 6 station conducting scientific experiments, marking a key moment for Hungary in space exploration.
The scientific objectives of his mission included:
- Measuring radiation doses received by crewmembers using small sensors placed on their clothing and station walls.
- Studying the formation of interferon in human cells under microgravity conditions.
- Photographing Hungary from space while simultaneously capturing video footage from an airplane and helicopter.
- Conducting material science and crystal growth experiments in the Splav furnace to understand the physical processes of melting, diffusion, and crystallization in space.
In addition to these experiments, Farkas also contributed to medical, biological, and psychological studies that explored human resilience to the stresses of spaceflight.
Joining the European Space Agency
Hungary began collaborating with the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1991 and became a full member in 2015. In 2021, Hungary aimed to send an astronaut to the International Space Station, leading to the first agreement between ESA and a member state for a national astronaut research program.
Joining the European Space Agency
Hungary began collaborating with the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1991 and became a full member in 2015. In 2021, Hungary aimed to send an astronaut to the International Space Station, leading to the first agreement between ESA and a member state for a national astronaut research program.