The European Space Agency (ESA), the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, and the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) have decided to officially name the Polish technological and scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS) ‘Ignis’, which was announced on the ESA website on December 2nd, 2024.
“Naming this mission Ignis symbolises the spark of innovation and the ambitious contributions from Poland to space exploration, […] highlighting Europe’s readiness to advance space exploration, strengthening its role in shaping the future of space technology,” said Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration.
Ignis has been part of the Axiom mission 4 (Ax-4), which happens to be the second commercial human spaceflight mission with an ESA project astronaut. The astronaut, Dr Sławosz Uznański, will be acting as a mission specialist, under the command of Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson.
Dr Sławosz Uznański and his achievements
Uznański became a member of the ESA astronaut reserve in November 2022, after a year-long selection process which included over 22 5000 applications from across its Member States. Then, on 1 September 2023, he went on to become an ESA project astronaut, which meant undergoing training in preparation for a future space mission.
This project means that Sławosz will be the second Pole in space, and the first to go to the International Space Station. As for the rest of the crew (along with Dr Uznański and commander Whitson), Shubhanshu Shukla from India will be the mission’s pilot, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary will act as the mission specialist.
Source: x.com / Slawosz Uznanski @astro_slawosz
Preparing for the mission
During their 14-day project, the crew will conduct research in microgravity and participate in educational outreach activities. In preparation for this, the team has been undergoing intensive training at various facilities around the world, which will equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills for the job.
The key training facilities include ESA’s European Astronaut Centre in Germany, as well as facilities operated by Axiom Space, NASA, and SpaceX in the USA, and JAXA in Japan.
“The Ignis mission is a groundbreaking event not only for our space sector. Thirteen Polish experiments in the fields of technology, biology, medicine, and psychology, prepared by Polish scientists and engineers, will open new opportunities for Polish research and, in the long term, increase Poland’s competitiveness on the global market. ESA project astronaut Dr Sławosz Uznański will be the second Pole in space, making him the best ambassador for Polish science and industry, as well as an inspiration for future generations,” says Professor Grzegorz Wrochna, President of the Polish Space Agency.
The mission patch
The name “Ignis” is derived from the Latin word for “fire”, and it symbolises the spark that ignites a new era in Poland’s space projects.
The main feature of the patch is an eagle, a nod to Poland’s national emblem. The eagle’s white and red wings mirror the colours of the Polish flag, while its tail forms a flame, representing the mission’s name, Ignis.
The eagle’s outstretched wings follow the contours of the Orla Perć mountain range in the Polish Tatra Mountains, known for being the most challenging range in Poland, symbolising perseverance and courage.
In the mission’s name, the second ‘i’ is styled to resemble the International Space Station. The red stars above align to create the Scutum constellation, honouring its discoverer, astronomer Johannes Hevelius (1611–1687), who was born in Gdańsk, Poland. A silver line acts as the horizon, highlighting the dawn of a new era in space exploration.
