A Pole has returned from space, and what's next? Billions are at stake for our industry to compete for.

• During his orbital mission, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski conducted a number of experiments, some of which – according to Wrochna – may have groundbreaking significance for many sectors of the economy in the future – from medicine to nuclear energy.
• - Despite the increase in expenditure on the space sector, Poland still spends a symbolic 0.3 per mille of national income on this purpose - emphasizes Grzegorz Wrochna.
• In the fall, Poland will once again sit down for talks with the European Space Agency and decide on the amount of its contribution. "Reducing it would mean regression," says our source.

- Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski's flight into orbit is more than just a symbolic success, it is a potential turning point for the entire Polish space sector - says Grzegorz Wrochna, former president of the Polish Space Agency, in an interview with WNP.

- I hope that our astronaut will burst the information bubble at a speed of 26,000 km/h and we will start talking more in the country about the importance of space technologies - says Wrochna, adding that this success is the result of years of preparations, an increase in the ESA contribution and a growing awareness that satellite technologies are no longer the future, but an everyday reality.

How did a Pole go from the bench to orbit?

Back in 2022, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski was named one of the European Space Agency's reserve astronauts. From Poland's perspective—a country that had long been at the bottom of ESA's payroll—this was more than just a distinction. "It was a boost," Wrochna recalls.

When the European Space Agency announced the recruitment of astronauts, 22,000 candidates from all over Europe applied, including about 500 from Poland.

"This group gradually dwindled. In the quarterfinals, let's say, we had three Polish candidates, and in the semifinals, two. Only one made it to the final, Sławosz."

"I convinced the ESA director that Poland was a large country with ambitions. We needed an astronaut to make space understandable and relevant to the public. And I succeeded," Wrochna recalls.

"Our candidate had to demonstrate excellent knowledge, substantive preparation, but also mental preparedness, resistance to stress, the ability to behave in critical situations, and had to demonstrate the ability to solve difficult problems, and he passed all of this with flying colors. But we also needed to connect our ambitions to specific activities at the European Space Agency," adds our interviewee.

As he assures us, the decision to include Uznański in the orbital mission was no accident; it was a result not only of his impressive competences but also of Poland's greater involvement in ESA activities. This changed the situation radically.

" We've gone from being at the bottom of the rankings to roughly sixth or seventh place . This has allowed our companies to not only supply individual components, but also receive orders for entire large systems, entire satellites," explains Wrochna, adding that despite the increase in spending on the space sector, Poland still spends a symbolic 0.3 per mille of its national income on this purpose.

" And this is an investment that could pay off in the billions. Satellite technologies are as important as fiber optics, highways, or airports," he emphasizes, explaining that satellite data now enables precise water management in agriculture, rapid flood risk assessment, and fire location.

What experiments did Sławosz perform in space?

During his orbital mission, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski conducted a number of experiments, some of which – according to Wrochna – may have groundbreaking significance for many sectors of the economy in the future – from medicine to nuclear energy.

The research included a test of a brain-computer interface that allows devices to be controlled solely by thought.

- This is something truly groundbreaking - says the former president of the Polish Space Agency, emphasizing that although the practical application of this technology is still a long way off, its potential is enormous.

- Of course, we can perfectly imagine practical applications of this, but this method is still a long way off from being perfected and put into practical use.

Another important area of research in which Uznański has been involved is innovative methods of radiation measurement. According to Grzegorz Wrochna, given the growing importance of nuclear power in the context of energy transformation and powering artificial intelligence farms, precise and reliable radiation monitoring tools are becoming crucial.

- Tools to implement nuclear energy safely are very much needed, and this is where these new methods of measuring cosmic radiation can be very useful - he emphasizes.

Among the technologies Uznański tested was a specialized processor resistant to strong radiation. Such integrated circuits are essential where traditional electronics fail, explains the former president of the Polish Space Agency.

What's next for Poles in space and the entire industry?

In the autumn, Poland will once again sit down for talks with the European Space Agency and decide on the amount of its contribution.

"Reducing the contribution would mean regression. We should not only maintain this level, but increase it. If NATO allocates 5% of GDP to defense, we should invest at least 0.5% in space technologies," appeals the former president of POLSA, explaining that it's no longer just about prestige or science. It's about security, innovation, and real profits.

"Infrastructure like orbiting satellites costs millions, but having them allows us to generate or save billions of dollars nationwide. For example, even a 10 percent increase in yields per hectare, made possible by precise irrigation or fertilization planning based on satellite data, is a huge added value for agriculture. Similarly, reducing losses caused by floods or fires thanks to early threat detection also translates into real savings worth billions," our source concludes.