Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski returns to Earth. (Live broadcast)

The Ignis mission, in which Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski participated, is one of the most advanced scientific and technological projects implemented in recent years by the European Space Agency and the Polish Space Agency. The goal was to conduct experiments in the conditions of microgravity and testing technologies that may be used in future manned missions on the moon and Mars.

According to the Polish Space Agency (Polsa), all priority mission goals have been achieved. The Pole devoted a total of 95 hours to the implementation of experiments, including 12 Polish experiments (one of which takes place only on Earth) and four projects of the European Space Agency.

Last day in space

Sunday was the last full day of Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski aboard the international space station. This day was marked by closing the last operational tasks and a symbolic farewell to the crew. The ceremony, although it had an informal character, was an important moment for the whole team. Working in conditions of microgravity is not only a technological challenge, but also a huge mental and physical burden.

Uznański-Wiśniewski played many roles during his stay in space-he was not only a researcher and an experiment operator, but also an ambassador of science, conducting educational relationships, contacting young people and scientific communities on Earth.

Return procedure. Landing in California

According to plan, after 10.55 Polish time, the hatch was closed between the Dragon capsule and the ISS station. Then the arm tightness test connecting the vehicle with the orbital complex was carried out. The final deposit of the capsule is planned for 13.05. After him, the Axiom-4 crew will start a series of maneuvers leading to the entrance to the Earth’s atmosphere.

Here you will watch the live report:

“The key moment will be entering the atmosphere of the earth. It will happen tomorrow at 11 am,” said Hubert Kijek on TVN24. The return process assumes the rejection of the lower part of the capsule with solar panels, and then the vessel rotation of the thermal shield towards the ground, which will allow safe crossing through the atmosphere.

After launching the capsule off the coast of California, the Polish astronaut will go to Cologne in Germany. There, at the Envihab center belonging to the German center of aeronautics and space (DLR), a set of space medicine of the European Space Agency will monitor its health and adaptation to earthly gravity.

The course of the last hours of the mission

The Monday morning began intensively. At 10.43, the astronauts took places in the Dragon capsule, preparing for a long return process. A crew of a seven -person crew will remain on board ISS, which will continue their daily operational tasks. At 11.00 Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski still helped other crew members, he did not have a suit yet, which caused a temporary delay in closing the hatch.

It is worth recalling that this type of missions become part of the global strategy for space exploration and preparation for the permanent presence of man outside the Earth’s orbit. Technologies and knowledge acquired as part of the project will be used in planned missions on the moon and Mars.