The Hungarian government plans to conclude an agreement with the American company Axiom Space, which provides for sending its astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS). The fact that Budapest actually refused to fly into space as part of Europe, SpaceNews reports .
The transaction amount will exceed one hundred million dollars. The flight of the Hungarian astronaut to the ISS may take place in late 2024 - early 2025. The astronaut will stay in near-Earth orbit for about a month. Currently, only a memorandum of understanding has been concluded between the Hungarian government and SpaceNews.
The publication reminds that Hungary is one of the member countries of the European Space Agency (ESA). According to the publication, cooperating with Axiom Space to send its astronaut to the ISS, the Hungarian side actually refused to do this within the framework of ESA.
SpaceNews writes that the Hungarian side's statement on cooperation with Axiom Space caused surprise among other ESA members. In addition, Hungary's expenses for a possible mission are comparable to Budapest's annual contribution to the European Space Agency, amounting to $ 97 million.
"This is Hungary's choice, so I will not comment on the agreements concluded between one country and a private company," said ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher.
According to him, he would prefer Hungary to send its astronaut to the ISS as an ESA member country.
In October, SpaceNews wrote that European civil and military space organizations, against the background of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, are reviewing their own budgets in favor of greater independence from partners.
