Poland joins the Space Race

Prime Minister Donald Tusk stressed that Poland does not want to be merely an observer in the global space race but an active participant.

"Space is no longer just a realm of imagination. It is becoming a domain where Polish ambitions will also be present. We all know the saying ‘the sky is the limit.’ Today, we can say ‘the sky is not the limit’—for you and for our Polish ambitions,"

— said Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the meeting with the astronauts.

The flight of the first Polish astronaut of the 21st century—and the second in history—marks the culmination of the initial phase of Poland’s space activity.

The Significance of the Polish Space Mission

Conducted in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and Axiom Space, the "Ignis" mission is Poland’s contribution to the AX-4 mission. Poland’s participation in this endeavor represents another step in building national space capabilities. The mission will include 13 scientific experiments with potential benefits for medicine, biology, space technology, and artificial intelligence.

"Anyone observing the war in Ukraine knows how crucial the capabilities emerging from space can be,"

— emphasized Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Experiments conducted in orbit can effectively support and complement those carried out on Earth. The mission's research will cover topics such as the effects of microgravity on the human immune system, the development of cosmic radiation sensors, and the stability of nanomaterials in space conditions.

Polish Astronaut on Board AX-4

One of the AX-4 crew members is Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski. He will be the second Pole in history to travel to space and the first to spend time aboard the ISS. He will be accompanied by American astronaut Peggy Whitson, Hungarian Tibor Kapu, and Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla.

"I am very proud of the symbolic significance of this mission, with an American commander and a Hungarian crew member. For Poles, these are perhaps the nations closest to our hearts, regardless of politics,"

— said Donald Tusk.

Uznański-Wiśniewski was selected as an ESA reserve astronaut in 2022. He specializes in space engineering and systems resistant to cosmic radiation. He will bring with him mementos related to Poland and Polish heritage, including traditional Polish pierogi.

"I am proud to be Polish, to be here, and to take the Polish flag with me to the International Space Station. One of these flags is the same one that General Hermaszewski carried in 1978, making this mission a continuation of that symbolic flight. Together with Europe, we are developing technologies and working to bring new services and solutions to people on Earth. I believe this is just the beginning, and I look forward to the next steps,"

— said Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski.

His participation in the mission is the result of years of preparation, experience gained in international research institutions, and a symbol of Poland’s increasing role in global space exploration.

Government Support for Space Research

Prime Minister Donald Tusk emphasized that the government is consistently investing in the sector’s development, supporting both large research projects and domestic companies specializing in space technologies.

"A few weeks ago, we announced, alongside the President of the European Investment Bank, an investment of 300 million euros in Poland’s satellite program. Poland is deeply engaged in its own space program as well as international initiatives like the ‘Ignis’ mission,"

— noted the Prime Minister.

Poland must actively participate in the global development of the space sector, not only as a technology recipient but also as a creator.

"Our government takes the development of Poland’s space sector very seriously. Technology transfer and the benefits we can gain from it are key indicators for our economy,"

— stated Minister of Development and Technology Krzysztof Paszyk.

In recent years, Poland has significantly increased its involvement in the space sector. The country ranks seventh among nations investing the most resources in this field. In 2025 alone, Poland’s contribution to the European Space Agency will amount to approximately 140 million PLN (33.5 million EUR) for mandatory programs and 672 million PLN (160 million EUR) for optional programs