The Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) this year. At a press conference, he said that he would take the Polish flag and dumplings with him. “The cosmos is not only for the biggest, it is for everyone,” he said.
Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski reminded during the Thursday press conference that the first Polish flight in cosmos took place in 1978.
– We were the fourth country in space. As a child raised in the 1980s, I could only dream that one day I would become an astronaut myself. My childhood dream is just fulfilled – he confessed. He added that he was born on April 12 – on the 23rd anniversary of the first flight into space, Yuri Gagarin. – On every birthday my mother wished me all the best on the occasion of the Cosmonaut's Day – recalled the Polish astronaut.
Axiom-4 mission
– Today I represent Poland and a whole generation of Poles – scientists, teachers, students. All who contribute to the development of science at local and global level. We want to show that space is not only for the largest, but it is for everyone – said the astronaut from Poland. Also American Peggy Whitson, commander of the Axiom-4 mission, reminded that since the first astronauts from India, Poland and Hungarian – that is, the predecessors of the Axiom -4 mission – they flew into space, over 40 years have passed. “Thanks to commercial flights into space, we accelerate space programs in each of these three countries and create new technological progress paths – said Whitson on Thursday. She noted that the international crew would inspire a completely new generation of young people. – Two weeks that we planned on board an international space station will be filled with scientific and technological programs of each government – she added. She said that the crew has been training since August last year, jointly learns the ISS systems and the Dragon spacecraft, which will bring astronauts to orbit and learns how to deal with emergency situations. – One of my main goals is to transform this diverse group into a high -performance team. I can guarantee that we are on the right track to this goal, 'said Peggy Whitson.
The Polish astronaut will take the flag and dumplings to ISSPAP
Flags and dumplings will fly to ISS
The American admitted that the pronouncement of the name “Sławosz” caused her and other crew members a problem, so the Pole was called “Slave” by his colleagues. “If you think he is a nerd, you don't even know half of him,” she joked during the crew presentation. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski admitted, just like his colleagues, that the Axiom-4 crew is like a family for him. He noted that he feels associated with astronauts, who flew to orbit before him, and especially with the late Mirosław Hermaszewski – the first Pole in space. – He supported me a lot during the selection process, (…) He was the first person to call me in the morning after I was chosen. He congratulated me. I really feel a great bond with him and with his space flight – he said. – I can proudly say that I will take a flag on board a spacecraft, which Hermaszewski had on his suit, when he flew into space in 1978. It's a great honor for me. I am very happy that I can take part in this relay and continue Polish commitment to a space flight program. I hope that I am not the last in this journey for many subsequent decades – said Uznański. He announced that he would also take a Polish dish to ISS. – I have experience from the mountains, where food (…) brings mental comfort. When I started working in Axiom, I learned that I could participate in the food preparation project that we would take with us at the ISS. I started working with a small Polish family company. Today I can say that for the first time we will take Polish dumplings into space – he said.
A technological process has been developed that will freeze dumplings
He said that, together with the producers of dumplings, he developed a technological process that would “freeze them dry”. – We worked for several weeks and the company mastered this process. (…) Thanks to this, I hope, dumplings in space will be just as tasty as on earth – he added. The cosmic mission of the Polish astronaut is planned for spring 2025. Together with him on ISS, Peggy Whitson (USA) – the commander of the mission, Shubhanshu Shukla (India) – a pilot of the mission and tibor of kapu (Hungary) – a mission specialist. As the spokeswoman of the Polish Space Agency Agnieszka Gapys said, on February 5, the Axiom-4 space mission crew will visit Warsaw.
Mission goal
The goal of the Axiom-4 mission is to fly four astronauts to an international space station. They are to get there on board the CREW Dragon ship from Spacex, which will be taken out using a Falcon 9 rocket. The mission should take a total of 14 days.
Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański trains before a mission at an international space stationHubert Kijek/Facts about the world of TVN24 Bis
Source of the main photo: Dima Zel/Shutterstock