Czech astronaut may go into space sooner than expected, says head of Space Technology Department
The selection of the pilot Aleš Svoboda to the European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut team is a great success for the Czech Republic, said Václav Kobera, Director of the Department of Space Technologies and Satellite Systems of the Ministry of Transport. Despite the fact that Svoboda is “only” on the team of substitutes, he said he could soon be able to help in scientific experiments in other member states of the agency. The Czech Republic has another astronaut after more than 40 years, army pilot Ales Svoboda. He succeeded among more than 22,000 applicants to become a member of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) reserve team of astronauts.
Source https://ceskatelevize.cz/cesky-astronaut-se-mozna-do-vesmiru-podiva-driv-nez-bychom-cekali-rika-sef-odboru-kosmickych-technol