Hungarian Embassy Brings Astronauts to London for LSE Spaceflight Discussion
Embassy event at LSE highlights Hungary’s scientific role in human spaceflight
March 09th, 2026
The LSESU Hungarian Society, in collaboration with the Embassy of Hungary in London, recently hosted a moderated discussion at the London School of Economics and Political Science featuring Hungarian astronauts involved in a landmark space mission. The event offered students and researchers a rare opportunity to hear firsthand accounts from participants in a recent international spaceflight and to explore Hungary’s growing role in scientific research beyond Earth.
The discussion featured Tibor Kapu and Gyula Cserényi, both key members of the HUNOR – Hungarian Astronaut Programme. During the mission, Kapu served as the programme’s research astronaut, conducting Hungarian-designed experiments in microgravity, while Cserényi supported the mission from the Mission Control Center. Their work formed part of Axiom Mission 4, which delivered a series of scientific experiments to the International Space Station. Notably, Hungary carried out the highest number of scientific experiments during the mission, demonstrating the country’s growing capacity to contribute meaningful research to international space operations.
During the event, the astronauts discussed the realities of preparing for human spaceflight, including intensive training, mission readiness procedures, launch preparation, and the execution of experiments in microgravity. They also reflected on the broader significance of Hungary’s return to human spaceflight. Through the HUNOR programme, Hungarian universities, research institutes, and private-sector partners are working together to design experiments and technologies that can be deployed in orbit, strengthening the country’s presence within international scientific collaborations.
Beyond its scientific dimension, the event also illustrated how space activities increasingly intersect with diplomacy and international cooperation. Engagements such as this discussion at LSE contribute to science diplomacy by connecting academic communities, policymakers, and the public around emerging fields of strategic importance. As human spaceflight becomes more accessible through international partnerships and commercial missions, smaller and mid-sized countries like Hungary are positioning themselves to contribute research expertise and technological innovation within the global space ecosystem.
The event concluded with a lively exchange between the astronauts and the audience, highlighting growing interest among students and researchers in the future of human space exploration. By sharing their experiences and insights, Kapu and Cserényi underscored how Hungary’s renewed participation in crewed missions reflects a broader transformation in the space sector—one in which scientific capability, international collaboration, and strategic vision increasingly determine which countries help shape humanity’s next steps beyond Earth.
References:
- https://www.facebook.com/HunEmbassy.London/posts/pfbid02qZAMuiQJFxDCW6MD9BkJgr9Xni83JwXwE7kE2kK6WDvdGWdEWT8Px8qfyYj7DRGAl
- https://lsesu.native.fm/?pastEvent=279719
