Germany/Polish astronaut: We have an incredible amount of work to do to capitalize on this mission

"We have an incredible amount of work to do to capitalize on this mission and build our future," said Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski after returning from the International Space Station. On Wednesday, a special plane carrying the astronaut landed in Cologne, Germany.

On the way from the United States, Uznański-Wiśniewski was accompanied by a medical team and his wife, Aleksandra.

A group of several dozen people awaited the Polish astronaut's return on the apron, many with Polish flags, others with posters, including the words "Welcome home Sławosz," chanting the astronaut's name every few moments. Among them were Sławosz's family and friends, as well as his colleagues from ESA and POLSA, among others.

A few minutes after landing, Uznański-Wiśniewski and his wife appeared at the plane's door. They briefly greeted the group that greeted them. After descending onto the tarmac, the Polish astronaut thanked the crew of the plane that had transported him from the US to Germany. Sławosz could only exchange words of welcome and warm gestures from a distance of several meters, as he is still under partial quarantine.

Just before heading to ESA's European Astronaut Centre, where he will spend the next week undergoing rehabilitation, Uznański-Wiśniewski also met with journalists who attended the welcome ceremony.

"I'm convinced we have an incredible amount of work to do. (...) I'm returning with a head full of ideas on how to leverage this mission and build our future. I feel like the real work is just beginning," he said.

He added: "This is an incredible moment in history, an incredible moment for us as well, to seize this opportunity to build our future."

He said of the IGNIS mission that it was probably the most difficult challenge of his life. "It's probably the most difficult challenge I've ever had to face. The most difficult, but also the most important and valuable experience of my life," he noted.

When asked how he felt about his health after returning from space, he replied, "Good, even very good. I have nothing to complain about."

Among the biggest surprises on the International Space Station, he cited the microgravity environment and the view of Earth. "Earth is big, bright, beautiful from above, incredibly blue. There are many more oceans and clouds than I imagined," he admitted.

He thanked everyone who worked on the mission, the friends who came to welcome him, and his wife, Aleksandra, for their support. He recalled that a total of approximately 500 people worked on the IGNIS mission.

“Without you, the mission would not have been possible,” he said in English.

At the German Aerospace Center (DLR) "Envihab," ESA's space medicine team will monitor the astronaut's health and fitness for approximately one week during the return to Earth's gravity. The team will be led by the doctor who accompanied Uznański-Wiśniewski during the launch and landing.

The regenerated Polish astronaut will take part in so-called debriefings, i.e. mission summaries, in the US and Europe.

"The technical portion of the debriefing—with the participation of all operational teams—is planned shortly after the crew's return to keep the observations fresh. We will organize further, more detailed debriefings in Europe in the coming months," announced the Ax-4 mission director.

On Tuesday, members of the Ax-4 mission – Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, Peggy Whitson of the United States, Tibor Kapu of Hungary, and Shubhanshu Shukla of India – returned to Earth after a stay on the International Space Station (ISS). The Dragon Grace capsule that carried them splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California (USA) at approximately 11:30 a.m. Polish time. The Ax-4 crew spent 18 days on the station and a total of 20 days in space (including travel to and from the ISS). During that time, the astronauts orbited the Earth 230 times and covered approximately 13 million kilometers, according to ESA.

Uznański-Wiśniewski is scheduled to arrive in Poland in the middle of next week. He said on Wednesday that he will spend about a week in Poland and then fly to the United States. (PAP)

Science in Poland

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