The Polish Space Agency (POLSA) and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) discussed details of future cooperation during a two-day visit of POLSA representatives in Pasadena, California, on 27-28 February 2024. The visit is an important milestone in the building of long-term scientific and technological cooperation.

Oskar Karczewski, the Head of Research and Innovation at POLSA met with Indrani Graczyk, the Head of Strategic Programs, and key executives representing Astrophysics and Solar System research. Discussions focused on Poland’s participation in developing mission concepts for deep space scientific missions and planetary exploration.

Poland already participates in IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe), an upcoming NASA mission with the Space Research Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences contributing GLOWS (GLObal solar Wind Structure), one of 10 planned instruments. Current efforts of POLSA are aimed at providing a framework for regular scientific and technological participation of Poland’s research institutions and the private sector.

Working together with NASA JPL is a natural next step in international cooperation at this special time for Poland. Over four decades of space heritage and 12 years of membership of ESA resulted in the development of unique expertise and over 100 technologies. Poland’s participation in some of the most ambitious human endeavours led by JPL will stimulate the scientific community, inspire young generations and help Polish companies expand to new markets, said Oskar Karczewski.

POLSA stepped up conversations with NASA in 2022 as one of international priorities of Professor Grzegorz Wrochna, the President of POLSA. Following workshops at JPL with the participation of 10 Polish entities in late 2022, over 20 institutions and private companies expressed support for building stronger links with NASA. In December 2023, POLSA completed three analytical reports which identified several possible technological areas of Poland’s interest.This is an exciting year for the Polish space sector, with new investments being made within ESA, potential new projects with NASA JPL, all coinciding with a scientific mission of the Polish astronaut to the International Space Station, adds Oskar Karczewski.

Top image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED)