Meeting of Space Generations - the First Hungarian Space Congress
June 8, 2024, Balatonfüred – The 1st Domestic Space Congress was organized by the ORION Space Generation Foundation in Balatonfüred, which for the first time brought together the researchers, regulators and business actors of the domestic space sciences, and which was specially organized for children and interested parties. In addition to the numerous professional programs and exhibitions, one of the highlights was a round table discussion with Bertalan Farkas and HUNOR astronauts, as well as a presentation by Jim Christensen, director of innovation at the Aldrin Family Foundation in the USA, who previously worked as NASA’s director of education.
At the ceremonial opening of the event, Dr. Orsolya Ferencz, ministerial commissioner responsible for space research at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who was also the main patron of the event, as well as Gergely Fábián, state secretary for industrial policy and technology at the Ministry of National Economy, and Dr. István Bóka, Mayor of Balatonfüred, gave a speech too.
Balatonfüred turned into a real space center for one day, as the best of the space industry participated in the first space congress, where, in addition to nearly 30 exhibitors, 18 lectures and numerous children’s programs, the congress was held with the participation of about 800 people. The aim of the initiative was to demonstrate the importance of space research and to promote the sharing of information and knowledge.
Chief organizer Anett Fenyőfalvi, president of the Orion Space Generation Foundation, emphasized that “our primary goal is to talk to children and young people about the importance of space sciences and to encourage young people’s interest in scientific and technical careers. From here, if even one child leaves wanting to be an astronaut, then we have already taken a huge step.”
Dr. Orsolya Ferencz, ministerial commissioner responsible for space research and patron of the event, said in her opening speech that “Hungary will soon send a Hungarian research astronaut into space again. Hopefully, this mission will inspire the young generation, many of whom will join the Hungarian space research community. The First National Space Congress is a significant event of this community-building work”.
Gergely Fábián, the State Secretary responsible for industrial policy and technology of the Ministry of National Economy, explained the objectives of the Hungarian space strategy in his speech at the event, including strengthening the multiplier effect of the domestic space sector, the integration development of the space service sector and the improvement of competitiveness based on new technologies.
The mission of the Orion Űrnemzedék Foundation is to form a bridge between the actors in the domestic space industry and to promote the development and international involvement of Hungarian space research. According to Anett Fenyőfalvi, the head of the Foundation, it is of utmost importance to arouse the interest of young people in this task, so they initiated cooperation with the Aldrin Family Foundation in the USA to introduce and localize the educational material promoted by Jim Christensen, who previously worked as the education director of NASA, in Hungary. The specialist himself presented the unique theme and method called ‘Giant Moon and Mars Maps’ at the congress in Balatonfüred.
“We are pleased to be able to cooperate with the Orion Space Generation Foundation to arouse students’ interest in space exploration,” said Jim Christensen, Aldrin Family Foundation’s director of innovation. “The Foundation has already taken significant steps to ensure that the scientific results of the space industry be more comprehensible to ordinary people. Now we are excited to arouse the interest of even more students in space sciences with the educational material based on the ‘Giant Moon and Mars’ map, which debuted at the event.” – added the former professional director of NASA.
In terms of space-themed professional presentations, the congress awaited those interested with an extremely wide and colorful range of topics: among other things, it was possible to sit in on the conversation of HunSpace Hungarian space industry cluster members, but Space Terminal was also introduced, and Dr. István Sárhegyi, 4iG Space and Technology Co., Ltd. acting CEO and head of the presidential cabinet of 4iG Nyrt., who presented the space and technology companies of the 4iG Nyrt. SpaceBuzz Hungary also presented its latest VR space cabin at this event.
Professional and educational presentations and speakers at the Space Congress:
Dr. Orsolya Ferencz, ministerial commissioner responsible for space research at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, head of the Hungarian delegation of the European Space Agency; Gergely Fábián – State Secretary responsible for industrial policy and technology at the Ministry of National Economy; Dr. István Sárhegyi, acting CEO of 4iG Space and Technology Co., Ltd. and head of the presidential cabinet of 4iG Plc.; László Jónás – Space Terminal manager; Meszter Roland, PhD, Space Fit Business Development Manager; Dr. Bianka Horváth – UniSpace program director; István Gulyás – University of Dunaújváros Teacher Training Center researcher; István Zentai, chairman of the SpaceBuzz Hungary Public Foundation; Bella Szabolcs (Aedus Space); Gyula Horváth (C3S); Gábor Kiglics (Econ Engineering); Tamás Bárczy (Admatis Kft.); Szaniszló Bérczi, physicist, astronomer, ELTE TTK Materials Physics Department; Lőrinc Páva, Space Terminal, ESA Technology Broker; Detre Örs Hunor, space researcher; Szabolcs Nagy, editor-in-chief of SpaceJunkie; Miklós Vincze, physicist, researcher, science communicator; Ákos Farkas, BME Suborbitals Vice President; Gergely Csulik, Csillagváros Kft. vertical farm R&D engineer; Ferenc Ivanics, president of the Bakonyi Astronomy Association, astronomer; Tamás Ladányi, astrophotographer.
There was no shortage of programs at the space congress: there was a supersonic rocket, a Moon rock collection, but here the piece of the world’s second largest Aubri meteorite was presented for the first time in Hungary; and a Moon rover was also exhibited.
Among the informative presentations, you could listen to the presentation of space researcher Dettre Örs Hunor about the James Webb space telescope, the presentation of Spacy Junky editor-in-chief Nagy Szabolcs, and the science communicator Vince Miklós.
Exhibitors at the Space Congress:
ORION Űrnemzedék Alapítvány & Csillagváros Kft. R+D vertical farm stand, BME Suborbitals, Farkas Bertalan Educational Center, Traveling Planetarium, SpaceBuzz, Tamás Ladányi, Teller Rexus Project, Miratia, HUN-REN SZTAKI holographic microscope, Pannon Csillagda, Bakony Astronomy Association, AFMI, XR Coalition, Libri, SpaceJunkie, QamCom, StartoSpace, MANT, PrexRobot, BME Aerospace, Neumann Technology Platform, PowerSec, SpaceFit.
The eventful day concluded with an extraordinary event: a professional roundtable discussion featuring the HUNOR astronauts and Bertalan Farkas. The conversation between the three astronauts was moderated by the editor-in-chief of SpaceJunkie, who, in addition to discussing professional topics such as the details of the astronaut training program, also asked personal questions to the guests. This resulted in an enjoyable conversation, mainly in front of a young audience, marking the end of the first domestic space congress. Following the professional roundtable, an unofficial event took place where a long line formed for fans to take photos with the astronauts and get autographs without pause. Thus, the First Domestic Space Congress also became the first true fan meeting of the HUNOR astronauts.