Space research is aimed to be an increasingly important field in the scientific portfolio of the University of Debrecen. UD has recently been visited by the first Hungarian cosmonaut, where he learned about the university’s space research program that includes solutions for long-term stay in space, space diet and sustainable cultivation practices among others.
The first-ever, and so far only Hungarian cosmonaut had left the planet Earth 41 years ago, on May 26, 1980, taking off from Baikonur, Russia, on the spaceship Soyuz-36. He conducted a series of experiments during his journey that lasted for 8 days, 20 hours and 45 minutes. Following that space flight, a number of scientific tests had been initiated also at the University of Debrecen on the samples collected by the cosmonauts, as Bertalan Farkas recalled.
“The 21st century is going to be the century of space research. Although our country is relatively small, it disposes of huge intellectual potential. Thus, we should definitely not ‘miss this express train’ now because there simply might not be another chance to board it afterwards. With the research implemented at the university focusing on the future, it seems certain that the next Hungarian spaceman is not going to be just a tourist but rather someone with a serious scientific agenda to be completed,” said Bertalan Farkas to hirek.unideb.hu.
In his opinion, Hungary will be in the position between 2025 and 2030 to send another astronaut to outer space.
“In this century, humankind is expanding its boundaries towards space, which is why space research has got to be a definitive part and parcel of the scientific portfolio of UD,” said Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs László Csernoch, head of the program dubbed DE SPACE.
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