Czech astronaut Aleš Svoboda slated for 2027 International Space Station mission
Czech astronaut Aleš Svoboda is scheduled to launch to the International Space Station in late 2027, bringing 13 national scientific projects into orbit.
Czech fighter pilot and astronaut Aleš Svoboda is scheduled to travel to the International Space Station in the second half of 2027. Svoboda, a Gripen pilot with a doctorate in aeronautical aerodynamics, was selected from nearly 22,600 applicants to join the European Space Agency's astronaut reserve.
During his planned orbital mission, Svoboda will carry 13 Czech scientific research projects alongside symbolic items, including an ice hockey puck. Commenting on the current state of European space capabilities, Svoboda noted that Europe currently trails the United States in space technology by 10 to 20 years. Spaceflight represents "the pinnacle of what we can achieve as humans," he stated during an interview discussing astronaut training and technological advancement.
Sources: iROZHLAS