The announcement was made as part of the Czech Journey to Space project. Under an agreement between the European Space Agency and Vast, the Czech Republic is set to secure the role of pilot for the mission. However, Aleš Svoboda’s inclusion in the crew still requires formal approval from the international partners of the ISS.

If confirmed, the mission will represent the most significant Czech participation in space exploration since Vladimír Remek’s flight in 1978. Remek, then a Czechoslovak cosmonaut, travelled to the Soviet orbital station Salyut 6. Svoboda would become the first Czech to visit the International Space Station.

The mission is expected to include French ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who has been appointed as its commander. Transport to the ISS is to be provided by SpaceX using its Dragon spacecraft, launched on a Falcon 9 rocket. The role of pilot is one of the key positions in the crew, involving support with spacecraft operations, coordination of crew activities and flight safety.

Aleš Svoboda has extensive experience as a military pilot, including flying Gripen supersonic fighter jets. Between 2024 and 2026, he completed three stages of reserve astronaut training at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne. In the coming months, he is expected to continue with specialised mission training in cooperation with partners including SpaceX and NASA.

The mission follows a memorandum of cooperation signed between the Czech Republic and Vast in November 2024. For Czechia, it could represent not only a symbolic achievement, but also an opportunity to strengthen the domestic space sector, research, technology companies and the country’s involvement in international space projects.

Source: https://www.echo24.cz/
Author: CzechTrade Sydney