In cooperation with other ministries, the Ministry of Transport has selected 14 experiments for the ISS to be controlled by Czech astronaut Aleš Svoboda. They range from physiology to demonstrators of new technologies and include activities for the general public as well. Although the experiments are mostly related to basic research, they will bring benefits for space and terrestrial applications. Some of them should reach the ISS before the Czech astronaut Aleš Svoboda starts his mission at the end of 2027 and others will fly on board with him.
18 December 2024 – After almost fifty years, a Czech astronaut is preparing for a trip to space. A few days ago, Army combat pilot Major Aleš Svoboda officially completed the first of three phases of the European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut reserve team training programme in Cologne, Germany. The seven-week training included, among other things, the basics of biology and physiology with an emphasis on the body's adaptation to weightlessness, winter survival training, training for outdoor ascents and media training. The next phase of ESA training awaits Svoboda in the second half of next year, with the final preparatory block in spring 2026. .
The European Space Agency's (ESA) Ariane 6 launch rocket lifted off for the first time on Tuesday evening, 9 July, at 21:00 CET. Czech businesses have also contributed significantly to this launch thanks to ESA's Ariane and Vega Development programme.
The long-term project "Czech Journey to Space" aims to contribute to the transformation of the Czech economy into an economy based on high added value activities through space activities and their further development. The government supported the project at its last meeting.
This year marks 15 years since the Czech Republic joined the European Space Agency (ESA). Agencies focusing on cooperation between members on space missions, launch vehicles, research and many other areas in which Czech businesses, research institutes and academic entities also participate. Czech companies and academic institutions have been or are still involved in more than 600 technologically challenging projects in ESA; more than 60 Czech companies are directly involved in ESA projects and dozens more have an important role in supply chains. More than 20 Czech academic institutions and centres doing space research cooperate with ESA.
Opportunities for cooperation between Czech and Indian companies in the space industry. This was the main theme of the Czech-Indian Industry Day, which took place at the Ministry of Transport. Czech companies and research institutes had a unique opportunity to interact with the representatives of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the Indian Space Industry Association (ISpA) and leading companies in the Indian space industry.