HUNOR: the Hungarian space program will continue as an important future resource for the economy

The Hungarian space program will continue as an important future resource for the economy, and the government will ensure that our country continues to participate in international space research and space technology programs, announced Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. HUNOR employees were honored.

The HUNOR Hungarian Space Program will continue as an important future resource for the economy, and the government will ensure Hungary's ongoing participation in international space research and space technology programs, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced on Thursday in Budapest.

 

HUNOR Program: Tibor Kapu and Péter Szijjártó Presented the Award

 

Gyula Cserényi, reserve research astronaut, received the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary with the Star (Photo: MFA).

The minister delivered his speech on the occasion of the state decorations awarded to the experts of the HUNOR Hungarian Astronaut Program at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He emphasized that the space mission, which concluded in July, was one of the most exciting missions in Hungary’s history and that sending a Hungarian astronaut to the International Space Station was a major national goal.

“It is not entirely self-evident that a country with the capacity, size and capabilities of Hungary would dare to think so big,” he said. “It would be much more comfortable and risk-free to accept the notion that space is the domain of larger and stronger countries—who are we to enter this field? But it is worth reversing the perspective. Only those countries can truly call themselves strong, proud, successful and unified that are capable of setting such ambitious national goals,” he added.

He explained that the space mission and the work of recent years clearly show that Hungarians are capable of exceeding expectations in the most important and challenging undertakings. “This space mission has already surpassed expectations, and we hope it will continue to do so in the future,” he said.

Szijjártó pointed out that the global economy is undergoing a fundamental transformation, dividing participants into winners and losers.

“And since we want to belong to the group of winners, we constantly observe and seek those strategic breakthroughs necessary for Hungary’s future success,” he said. “If we ask which industry or scientific field will play the most important and innovative role in the future, the answer is obviously the space industry, space technology and space research.”

“A huge competition is underway for practically every small segment of outer space. And we know precisely that a successful space mission gives Hungary an advantage whose significance cannot be overstated.”

Participants of the HUNOR Program Received Decorations

The minister expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the project—colleagues, domestic companies, professional institutions and representatives of science—highlighting that the scientific experiments conducted by Tibor Kapu in space could provide tremendous momentum for Hungary’s competitiveness in the coming years.

He reiterated that the Hungarian space program will continue, as the government intends to make it a long-term strategic resource for the economy. “We will utilize all the results, capabilities and experiences gathered over these seven years. The Hungarian space program will now become continuous. Hungary’s participation in international space research and space technology programs will be ongoing. The necessary organizational and personnel frameworks will be established in the coming days and weeks.”

“Bertalan Farkas was among the first 100 people to travel into space, Tibor Kapu among the first 1,000, and we should not be satisfied with only two Hungarians represented in that first thousand. There are still more than three hundred places left. I sincerely hope that when the list of the first thousand is finalized, not only Kapu and Farkas will appear among Hungarians who have taken part in space missions. Therefore, the Hungarian space program continues, will be permanent, and we regard it as a key economic strategic tool for the future,” he concluded.

In his speech, Tibor Kapu emphasized the importance of teamwork and highlighted how valuable it was to work with people from whom he could learn so much.

“Countless colleagues of different backgrounds, experiences and personalities—but with a common goal and motivation—exerted superhuman effort and long working hours to make this mission so successful,” he said. “While I was up there, even though we were at least four hundred kilometers apart, I felt our connection constantly, because behind every experiment, every question, every instance of problem-solving, you were there—the real stars,” he added.

Who Received the Awards?

Gyula Cserényi, reserve research astronaut – Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary with the Star, Dr. Orsolya Ferencz, Ministerial Commissioner for Space Research – Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary, András György Éger, Head of Department for the HUNOR Program (MFA) – Gold Cross of Merit of Hungary, Eszter Kíra Guczogi, HUNOR Program Director – Gold Cross of Merit of Hungary, Dr. Ádám Tibor Schlégl, HUNOR Research Expert – Gold Cross of Merit of Hungary, Silver Cross of Merit of Hungary was awarded to:, Dr. Boldizsár Balázs, Gabriella Grubánovits, Bettina Makaró, Dr. Balázs Nagy, István Örökös-Tóth and István Ugron, Bronze Cross of Merit of Hungary was awarded to: Norbert Juhos