Polish astronaut Sławomi Uznański-Wiśniewski returned to Europe after completing the IGNIS mission at the global Space Station. At the airport in Germany a group of dozens of people were waiting for him with Polish banners and welcome posters. Astronaut admitted that the mission was the hardest but most crucial challenge in his life. He is now facing a week of rehabilitation at the ESA European Astronaut Centre.
On the way from the United States, Uznański-Wiśniewski was accompanied by a medical squad and Alexander's wife. A group of respective twelve people, many with Polish banners, others with posters, including "Welcome home Sławomi" were waiting for the return of the Polish astronaut.
Every fewer moments they chanted the name of an astronaut. In this group were close and friends of Sławomir and his colleagues, including ESA and POLSA.
Welcome from a distance
A fewer minutes after the landing of Uznański-Wiśniewski appeared with his wife at the plane door. They greeted their welcome group for a while. After coming down to the airfield plate, the Polish astronaut thanked the crew of the aircraft that transported him from the US to Germany.
The words of welcome and cordial gestures of Sławomi could only be exchanged from a fewer metres distance, as he was inactive partially quarantined. Just before going to the European Centre of Astronauts, ESA besides met with journalists.
Future plans
"I am convinced that we have an incredible amount of work to do. I come back with my head full of ideas on how to usage this mission and build our future. I think the real work is just beginning," said the astronaut.
He added, "This is an amazing minute in history, an amazing minute for us, too, to take advantage of this chance to build our future." About the IGNIS mission, he said it was most likely the hardest challenge in his life.
The Hardest Experience of Life
"It's most likely the hardest challenge in my life that I gotta face. The most hard but besides the most crucial and valuable experience of my life" - he noted. erstwhile asked how he assessed his wellness after returning from outer space, he replied, "Well, even very well. I can't complain about anything."
Among the biggest surprises on the global Space Station, he listed a way of moving in microgravity conditions and seeing the Earth. "The earth is large, bright, beautiful from above, incredibly blue. There are many more oceans and clouds than I imagined" - he admitted.
Thank you for the team
He thanked everyone who worked on the mission, friends who came to welcome and wife Alexander for his support. He recalled that about 500 people worked on the IGNIS mission. "Without you, the mission would not be possible," he said in English.
At the Center of the German Aeronautics and Space Center "Envihab" for about a week the ESA Space medicine squad will monitor the wellness and condition of the astronaut while returning to Earth's gravity.
Ax-4 mission details
On Tuesday, members of the mission Ax-4 - Pole Sławomir Uznański-Wiśniewski, American Peggy Whitson, Hungarian Tibor Kapu and Indian pilot Shubhanshu Shukla - returned to Earth after being on the global Space Station. The Dragon Grace capsule, which they flew in, was launched in the Pacific close San Diego, California around 11:30 a.m.
The crew of Ax-4 spent 18 days at the station and 20 days in space. According to ESA, at this time the astronauts orbited The earth has been 230 times, and they have traveled about 13 million kilometers.
Uznański-Wiśniewski is to come to Poland in the mediate of next week. As he said on Wednesday, he will spend about a week in Poland and then fly to the United States.
(PAP) Note: This article was edited with Artificial Intelligence.
