Sławosz Uznański will fly into space? Minister of Development and Technology Waldemar Buda: ESA is analyzing the offer

On Wednesday late in the evening, the GovTech Center, an inter-ministerial team for innovation and digitization at the Prime Minister’s Office, announced on Twitter that Sławosz Uznański would fly in cosmos as the second Pole in history. “We have been waiting for this moment for 45 years! After the historic mission with the participation of Mirosław Hermaszewski, as the second Pole, Sławosz Uznański – a member of the reserve corps of the ESA – European Space Agency will fly into space. Congratulations and we can’t wait to report on the launch!” – it was written. The entry was later deleted.

The first that the Polish scientist will participate in the ESA mission, citing a source in the Ministry of Development, was reported by Interia. Quoted by the portal, one of the representatives of the ministry stated that Uznański “starts training at the beginning of September”.

On Thursday, at a press conference, the Minister of Development and Technology, Waldemar Buda, commented on these reports. As he said, “we have made a very interesting offer, which is now being processed by the European Space Agency, which may result in such a success, but let’s not prejudge this fact.” He noted that no decisions had yet been made on the matter. – ESA is analyzing it and there is a chance that we will conclude an agreement and a contract that will specifically indicate what opportunities our astronaut will face – he explained.

“I assume this issue will be settled within a few weeks, but calm is needed and I would not like to communicate more until the end of this process (…). There is competition, there are Germany, other countries are striving for it – he added.

In the opinion of the head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Tourism, the Polish offer “probably will be the best”. – Not only ESA participates in this, but also the American side. The potential mission will therefore have a European-American character. There are still two decisions ahead of us. Firstly, the signing of the agreement with ESA, and secondly, the decision of the Committee, in which the Americans have the majority – he noted.

As indicated in the information sent to the Polish Press Agency by ESA, the Polish and European Space Agency are “considering options to allow flight” into space for Sławosz Uznański. “Details will only be released once an agreement has been reached with all parties, including the international partners of the ISS,” it added.

As reported by the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) at the end of November last year, Dr. Sławosz Uznański – a Polish scientist who was selected by the European Space Agency (ESA) for the ESA Astronaut Reserve – had to overcome over 22 thousand. candidates from all over Europe in the year-and-a-half qualifying rounds.

Candidates, as indicated, underwent various tests of knowledge about space and space technologies, intelligence and computational efficiency, the ability to solve complex, unusual problems under time pressure, mental toughness and keeping cool under stress. They underwent detailed medical examinations and passed a series of interviews.

“This is certainly one of the most important days in my life, but also a unique moment for Polish science and Polish participation in space exploration – appreciation of our achievements and highlighting our potential” – commented Uznański after being selected for the ESA Astronaut Reserve.

Doctor Sławosz Uznański comes from boatwhere in 2008 he graduated with honors from the Lodz University of Technology, obtaining the title of MSc. Eng. Also in the same year he received the title of M.Sc. Eng. at the University of Nantes (France) and the title of Eng. at the Polytechnic University of Nantes (France). In 2011, he defended his doctorate with honors at the University of Aix-Marseille (France). He is the author of a book on the effects of radiation in electronic systems and co-author of over 50 scientific articles.