Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski has completed a short, three-day visit to his home country, Poland, following the IGNIS space mission.
During his stay, he held high-level talks with key Polish officials and took part in a wide range of outreach activities before continuing his post-flight schedule in the United States.
Uznański-Wiśniewski outlines post-mission plans
In a personal update posted on social media, Uznański-Wiśniewski revealed he had just finished medical and experimental assessments in Cologne and was preparing for further sessions in Houston with NASA and commercial partners.
Despite a packed schedule, he met with Poland’s top policymakers to promote “concrete development plans” in science and technology.
A notable outcome was the Polish Prime Minister’s declaration of intent to establish a European Space Agency technology centre in Poland.
The astronaut also visited Warsaw’s Copernicus Science Centre, engaging with young people and educators, and took part in numerous interviews - from in-depth technical discussions to more accessible appearances for the general public, including children.
The visit also provided a rare opportunity to reunite with his immediate family in his hometown of Łódź, which Uznański-Wiśniewski described as his “greatest support and source of strength.”
During his visit to Poland, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, accompanied by his wife, Member of Parliament Aleksandra Uznańska-Wiśniewska, had the opportunity to meet with the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), U.S. General Alexus Grynkievich, as well as Poland's top diplomat, Radosław Sikorski. Photo: MSZ/Konrad Laskowski
Responding to criticism amid a demanding schedule
Addressing criticism from those who could not secure interviews or appearances due to his limited availability, Uznański-Wiśniewski pushed back against what he called manipulation and personal attacks: “I do not accept hate or distortions of fact - especially when directed at my family.”
He concluded by thanking his supporters and expressing optimism for the future of Polish science and space exploration: “This is just the beginning. I’ll be back soon to continue our work with universities in Poland.”
Read more about this topic:
(mp)
Source: X/@astro_slawosz/@PolandMFA/@PremierRP_en