Hungarian Astronaut Tibor Kapu has New Launch Date to the ISS
The Axiom-4 international space mission is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to the International Space Station at 08:22 local time (14:22 Central European Time) on 10 June at the earliest, it was announced at an online press conference on Tuesday. Hungarian research astronaut Tibor Kapu will be on board.
'Incredible honour and respect'
During a press event with the crew members, Tibor Kapu said: 'It is an incredible honour to represent Hungarians in space.' 'I owe you a huge debt of gratitude for the immense support, love and pride that I have received from you,' he told the Hungarians.
'My sincere wish is that, on launch day, we will pause for a moment and celebrate all that we have achieved together. I am embarking on this journey with your dreams, good wishes and efforts," said the Hungarian research astronaut.
He emphasised that this mission represents a significant advancement in science and discovery for Hungarians, as well as a leap in national pride and inspiration. It demonstrates that dreams and dedication know no bounds. He mentioned that he will conduct 25 experiments on the International Space Station that were prepared by "brilliant minds" from Hungary.
Training and unity
He also spoke about the involvement of NASA, SpaceX, Axiom Space, the German Aerospace Center and JAXA in preparing for the mission. He noted that he had never imagined that such a large part of the training would take place in water.
'We escaped from a flooded helicopter, kayaked in the sea off Mexico and jumped into icy water in Florida,' he said, adding that they had learned to remain calm.
The preparation not only made the team confident, but also created a kind of bond, unity, and camaraderie, he said.
'We will see sunrises over the Earth and be part of wonderful and awkward moments when we don't even know where we are going,' he added.
At Tuesday's press event, a small plush swan named Joy was also presented. This will signal to the crew that they have reached a state of weightlessness. Tibor Kapu said that his personal motto, which he learned during preparation, is that 'a team is healthy when it is happy with what it is doing'.
"We are focused and dedicated, but most of all, we enjoy it," he said, adding that happiness is a sign of trust, flexibility, and friendship to him.
'Swans fly gracefully over Lake Balaton at home; now this one will fly a little higher,' he said of the plush toy.
What will Tibor Kapu take with him to the ISS?
In response to a question, he said that, despite the sometimes arduous training, he is feeling well, partly because his family is also in Florida, enabling them to occasionally meet up while observing quarantine rules. He also revealed that Bertalan Farkas, with whom he had spoken frequently during the preparation period, would be present at the launch.
Tibor Kapu also revealed that he will take a TV Maci figure dressed in a spacesuit to the International Space Station. This figure went into space with Bertalan Farkas. He will also take a Rubik's Cube with him, which he plays with during quarantine. He said that the Rubik's Cube "embodies the ingenuity of Hungarians".
When asked about the special foods they will take with them, the Hungarian astronaut said that, in addition to the newly developed 'space chocolate' from Stühmer which is supporting the mission, he will also be taking Erős Pistá and Piros Aranya into space.
At the press conference, it was announced that the four-person team will spend 14 days on the International Space Station conducting approximately 60 experiments and research projects from 31 countries.
Source: MTI.hu
Photo: HUNOR - Magyar Űrhajós Program Facebook page
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