Astronauts Gyula Cserényi (l) and Tibor Kapu (r)
In front of a captivated audience at Millenáris Park on Saturday, Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu and reserve research astronaut Gyula Cserényi recounted their journey to space—from last-minute applications to the awe-inspiring silence of orbit.
The event offered a rare, personal glimpse into Hungary’s most recent space mission, as the two spoke about their selection, training, launch, and life aboard the International Space Station. Attendees later had the chance to meet the astronauts for photos and autographs.
Astronauts: Gyula Cserényi (l), Tibor Kapu (r) Photo: MTI/Illyés Tibor
Kapu, Hungary’s second astronaut in space, and Cserényi, who supported the mission from Earth, shared how they applied just before the deadline in a field of 246 candidates. After rigorous rounds of selection, four finalists—including Kapu and Cserényi—underwent a year-long basic training, forming close bonds along the way.
One of the most emotional moments came on May 26, 2024, when Kapu was selected for the mission—exactly 44 years after Hungary’s first astronaut, Bertalan Farkas, launched into space.
Training continued in Houston under NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX, with simulations focusing on emergency response and technical precision.
Gyula Cserényi (l), Orsolya Ferencz, (m) Tibor Kapu (r) Photo: MTI/Illyés Tibor
Kapu was joined on the mission by veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson, along with crew members from India and Poland. A record-breaking 32-day quarantine in Florida preceded launch—a mentally and physically taxing period eased only by daily runs on the beach. “Without that, we could not have endured it,” Kapu said.
Describing the launch, he said, “You train for it, but nothing compares. Even Whitson says she still cannot describe it after 30 years.” The vibrations, the roar of the rocket, and then the sudden shift to weightlessness and silence left a lasting impression.
During his 18 days on the ISS, Kapu conducted 25 experiments planned with precision by Hungarian scientists—a success he described as deeply collaborative. Yet his most profound moments came while floating in the cupola, gazing down at Earth. “It is dazzling—bright, colorful, alive. That final night, I stayed there for 90 minutes.”
Cserényi watched the launch from Kennedy Space Center and joined Kapu’s family to witness the docking. “Seeing him arrive safely—that is when I knew we had succeeded.” The return to Earth included a tense 12-minute re-entry, during which all communication was lost as the capsule tore through the atmosphere.
Kapu closed by thanking Orsolya Ferencz, Hungary’s Ministerial Commissioner for Space Research, calling her the driving force behind the mission. “Without her vision and support, this never would have happened.”
The event marked not just a homecoming, but a testament to Hungary’s growing role in international space exploration—and to the human spirit behind every mission.
Via MTI; Featured image: MTI/Illyés Tibor
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