𝗜𝗦𝗦 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱’𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆

The European Space Agency – ESA, the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, and POLSA Polska Agencja Kosmiczna | Polish Space Agency have announced ‘Ignis’ as the official designation for Poland’s technological and scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission’s name, derived from the Latin word for ‘fire,’ symbolizes the catalytic spark igniting Poland’s ambitious trajectory in space exploration.

This strategic mission exemplifies the evolving collaboration between ESA and Poland, reinforcing their partnership in commercial human spaceflight within the Axiom Space mission framework. Ax-4 will be the second commercial human spaceflight mission with an ESA project astronaut.

ESA project astronaut @Slawosz Uznanski will undertake the role of mission specialist, working under the leadership of Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight. This historic flight will establish Uznański as the second Polish citizen to venture into space and the first on the International Space Station.

Throughout their 14-day orbital expedition, the crew will execute cutting-edge research in microgravity conditions while engaging in educational outreach initiatives. The Ignis mission demonstrates Poland’s expanding contributions to space exploration within this multinational mission.

The mission features innovative contributions from Poland’s leading New Space enterprises:
• KP Labs: Pioneering the LeopardISS – an advanced compact data processing unit designed to validate AI algorithms in space, integrated with the ICE Cubes Service facility
• Extremo Technologies: Conducting research on volcanic microalgae for oxygen generation and carbon dioxide absorption in microgravity
• SVANTEK: Deploying sophisticated acoustic sensors for real-time monitoring of astronaut health and activity patterns
• CortiVision sp. z o.o.: Implementing spectroscopy techniques for brain activity monitoring, marking the first functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) deployment on the ISS
• SigmaLabs: Advancing space safety through innovative radiation detection and resilient system testing
• Astronika sp. z o.o.: Developing and validating critical technologies for future space missions

These multidisciplinary experiments, spanning technology, biology, medicine, and psychology, represent the culmination of Polish scientific and engineering excellence. The mission’s outcomes promise to unlock new research frontiers while significantly enhancing Poland’s competitive position in the global space sector.