HUNOR – the Hungarian Astronaut Program
The HUNOR-program
A historic endeavor that will put Hungary and the Hungarian space sector at the forefront of the international space industry. A contribution to creating scientific career opportunities, stimulating the Hungarian scientific community and attracting the interest of young people.
The Hungarian national research astronaut program, Hungarian to Orbit, was established as an element of the space strategy adopted in 2021. On 30 July 2021, the Hungarian government published a government decision that included the adoption of the contract preparing the Hungarian research space mission, as well as the adoption of domestic industrial development measures and funding requirements related to the feasibility of the mission.
The selection process
By the end of January 2022, more than 240 people had applied to become a candidate astronaut. Following a two-year selection process, Hungarian experts selected Tibor Kapu for the job and Gyula Cserényi as his reserve.
Training
Following a two-year selection and training process coordinated by Hungarian experts, and 8-10 months of mission-specific training provided by NASA and Axiom Space, the Hungarian research astronaut will serve as a member of the Ax-4 mission crew on the International Space Station, while his reserve will support the mission and the activities from the mission control center.
The mission
The astronaut will perform scientific experiments in space for Hungarian universities, research groups and companies. These will exploit the conditions of space not experienced on Earth to advance our scientific knowledge and achieve important technological breakthroughs.
Investment in the future
The HUNOR-program aims to contribute to the development of a robust domestic space sector, to make Hungary more competitive internationally in the high-tech industry, and to create a significant economic advantage for the country.
Az Ax-4 misszió
Az Axiom Space űripari vállalat által szervezett küldetés során a magyar kutatóűrhajós egy amerikai, egy lengyel és egy indiai társával utazik a világűrbe, hogy ott kutatásokat végezzenek el. Ez a nemzetközi együttműködés tudományos szempontból erősíti Magyarország nívóját, ugyanakkor új utakat nyit az űripari partnerségek és az innováció előtt.
The second Hungarian national research astronaut
During the selection process, experts assessed the candidates against more than 50 measurable criteria. Based on the results, the HUNOR Steering Board found Tibor Kapu to be the most suitable candidate, while Gyula Cserényi was selected as a reserve.
Axiom Space mission 4, which will include the Hungarian astronaut, is expected to be launched in spring 2025. The timing of human spaceflights to the space station is often affected by weather conditions, crew schedules and other circumstances, so the date may still change.
Our scientific and industrial development objective is to help Hungarian companies and research centers to realize their ideas through the program, either to find answers to the forthcoming challenges of growing space research worldwide, or to exploit the achievements of space technology for the benefit of our life on Earth and our economy. National and international experts have jointly developed the HUNOR experimental portfolio in this spirit, which includes more than 30 tasks for Hungarian astronaut on the International Space Station.
Scientific examinations, space industry development and educational activities can be brought on board the International Space Station with NASA’s permission. The Program’s experts and researchers from Hungarian partner institutions are working with Axiom, NASA and the European Space Agency in the rigorous approval process. The finalized HUNOR experiment portfolio will be published on our website.
The HUNOR-program aims to stimulate the domestic space sector and create outstanding career opportunities in Hungary. This growth will support the development of a robust space sector that will make Hungary more competitive internationally in the high-tech industry.
Hungary will strengthen its position in the international arena by participating in the Ax-4 mission alongside the United States, Poland and India. This cooperation not only enhances Hungary’s scientific standing, but also opens new avenues for space industry partnerships and innovation.
The research astronauts started their mission-specific training at Axiom Space in Houston in August 2024. That is where they met the other members of the Ax-4 mission crew, a Polish and an Indian colleague and their reserve, and their commander, astronaut Peggy Whitson. They have been working together and preparing for the mission ever since.
