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Polish Astronaut

A POLE AMONG THE ESA ASTRONAUT RESERVE

Sławosz Uznański, a Polish scientist, has been selected by the European Space Agency to the ESA Astronaut Reserve on November 23 in Paris during the last day of the ESA Council at Ministerial level. ESA contracts will be awarded to 6 primary corps astronauts and 11 reserve astronauts.

Polish Astronaut

About Sławosz Uznański

Slawosz Uznanski is an electronics engineer working at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). His research focuses on the design and realisation of reliable electronic systems and operating complex scientific machines including the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

Polish space industry

The Polish space sector catalogue is now available

The ‘Polish Space Sector – Entities Directory’ is another study prepared by POLSA, aimed at presenting the potential of the space industry. The publication contains information about the Polish space sector and its competencies related to industry and science regarding exploration and use of space.

POLSA and NASA JPL work towards long-term collaboration in future scientific missions

2023: POLSA’s year in space

Merry Christmas!

POLISH NATIONAL TRAINEE PROGRAMME BY ESA

ACTIVITY
AREAS

International Cooperation

POLSA coordinates the participation of representatives of Polish programs of the European Union (EU), the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and the European Defence Agency (EDA) in the field of space research, space technology and satellite technology.

Security and Defense

The priority task of the Polish Space Agency is to provide security of the state and its citizens and to increase Polish defense capabilities through the use of satellite systems.

Data for administrative authorities

Polish Space Agency is to facilitate and enable the country administration at central and local government use of products derived through the use of satellite technology such as Earth observation, satellite navigation or telecommunications

Space Industry

Supporting the domestic space sector is one of the vital spheres of activity of the Polish Space Agency. POLSA works on developing partnerships between Polish industry and research entities in chosen areas of space activity by organizing task forces meetings and briefings on the state of development of technological domains of the European Space Agency.

Education

Polish Space Agency will conduct educational activities in areas such as space technology, Polish space policy, the participation of Polish entities in space missions and experiments, addressed to all age groups and various communities.

POLES IN SPACE

Since 2012, Poland has been a member of the European Space Agency, accelerating the development of the Polish space sector. The Polish Space Agency (POLSA) was established in 2014 and functions as an executive agency under the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology.

The agency’s primary task is to support the Polish space industry by bridging the worlds of business and science. POLSA also assists entrepreneurs in securing funding from the European Space Agency (ESA). An essential aspect of POLSA’s activities is the promotion of satellite technology development for practical applications in everyday life, including communication, navigation, environmental monitoring, and weather forecasting.

Thanks to membership in ESA, Poland has emerged as a significant and recognizable partner in European space programs, contributing to research and the development of space and satellite technologies. Polish scientists are establishing contacts with new partners, working on cutting-edge technologies, and gaining financial support and access to ESA infrastructure.

An increase of 295 million euros in Poland’s contribution to the European Space Agency (ESA) between 2023 and 2025 will result in tangible benefits for the country. This funding will be allocated to programs and activities aimed at propelling the Polish economy to a higher level of development. Furthermore, preparations are underway for a Polish mission to the International Space Station (ISS), during which a series of scientific experiments will be conducted. This provides a distinctive opportunity for Polish companies to acquire valuable experience, showcasing the exceptional quality of Polish products. Additionally, a Polish astronaut will be part of this groundbreaking mission.

Poland is set to have its second representative in space, following the trailblazing footsteps of General Miroslaw Hermaszewski (1941-2022), who etched his name in history over 45 years ago. Hermaszewski embarked on his space odyssey on June 27, 1978, aboard the Soviet Soyuz 30 spacecraft. The groundbreaking mission spanned 8 days and included completing 126 orbits around the Earth.

On November 23, 2022, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced the selection of Sławosz Uznański, an accomplished astronaut and engineer holding a Ph.D. in electronics, for the esteemed position of ESA Astronaut Reserve. Uznański emerged victorious from a highly competitive field, surpassing more than 22,000 candidates from various European nations in a rigorous qualification process that spanned a year and a half. He is a candidate for the Polish ISS mission.

Key figures in the Polish space sector:

450+ registered entities
200+ entities daily collaborate with ESA
small and medium-sized enterprises constitute 80%
approximately 15 thousand employed in the sector
over 1,500 engineers contribute to the workforce
540+ projects for ESA, totaling about 190 million EUR
involvement in 80 ESA and NASA missions
development of 100 new technologies
Polish contribution to ESA (2023-2025) <€44 million annually (mandatory and optional)
geographical return factor ~ 94%