Czech ESA astronaut Aleš Svoboda is beginning the second phase of his training. For eight weeks, he will train in Cologne and other European cities for a potential mission to the ISS – covering everything from orbital mechanics to parabolic flights in zero gravity.
The Czech fighter pilot and ESA astronaut candidate Aleš Svoboda is starting the second stage of his preparation for a possible space mission. Eight weeks of intensive training in Cologne and other European cities are designed not only to familiarise him with the planning and operation of space projects, but also with the physical and psychological challenges that astronauts face during missions.
Svoboda was selected in 2022 from more than 22,000 applicants across Europe and was admitted to the European Space Agency’s astronaut team – a milestone for Czech space exploration. When the government in Prague officially endorsed his forthcoming mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in May this year, a vision became a concrete project. Since 2 September, Svoboda has been undertaking the second of three training phases at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, which will run until 24 October.
The training is extensive: from the basics of aerodynamics and orbital mechanics, through the structure and systems of the ISS, to medical knowledge about how the human body reacts in space. Practical exercises in weightlessness are included, along with scenarios simulating emergencies after returning to Earth. “Now we are getting much closer to what astronauts actually experience in space,” Svoboda says of his training.
Looking ahead to 2026, when the third and final training phase will take place, Svoboda’s preparation is seen as more than just a personal success story. Transport Minister Martin Kupka describes it as a “national project” intended to inspire young people in science and technology. “For the first time, a Czech is realistically preparing for a flight to the ISS. It is a powerful signal that even small countries can be part of humanity’s major future projects.”
Svoboda’s journey to space is thus seen as a symbol of a new era in Czech space exploration – and as an inspiration for the next generation. The Czech astronaut’s mission is part of the “Czech Journey to Space” project, which combines education and the popularisation of science with the promotion of the Czech space industry.
