Széchenyi István University hosted the space camp of the Hungarian Astronautical Society. The event, filled with exciting and interesting programs, allowed high school students to get acquainted with space research, space technology, and even space law.

Since 1994, the Hungarian Astronautical Society (MANT) has been organizing its summer space camp for interested young people at various locations. From July 7 to 13, for the second time since 1998, Győr – the campus of Széchenyi István University – hosted the event, which aims to introduce high school students to the exciting world of space research, connect them with like-minded young people from Hungary and beyond its borders, and engage with local professionals.

Participants of the 31st MANT camp, along with Dr. Szilvia Nagy, professor at Széchenyi István University, Dr László Bacsárdi, Vice President of the Hungarian Astronautical Society, and Dr Orsolya Ferencz, Ministerial Commissioner responsible for space research, at the University's Győr campus. (Photo: Márton Horváth)

At the opening of the event, Dr Orsolya Ferencz, ministerial commissioner responsible for space research, emphasized that the camp is an excellent opportunity for community building as well as a superb career orientation program. Over its thirty-year history, many campers have become excellent professionals who continue to strengthen Hungary's space industry and research.

"The field does not only concern natural sciences or engineering; many segments are connected to it, from medical science to legal issues. That's why we launched the UniSpace program with the participation of twenty-one Hungarian universities, so everyone can contribute to the development of Hungarian space research in their own field," she highlighted. She then spoke about the HUNOR project, which aims to send a Hungarian astronaut to space again.

"Two hundred forty-seven brave compatriots applied, and after several rounds, we finally selected two, Tibor Kapu and Gyula Cserényi as a reserve. They will soon continue their training in Houston, where an authentic replica of the International Space Station is located, allowing them to practice everything. After their mission is completed, we do not want to wait another fifty years for the next opportunity, so we will restart the program as soon as possible, and we are already looking forward to your applications. It might be that Hungary's next astronaut is sitting among you," she encouraged.

"The space industry is developing explosively, and Hungary is also taking its share of it," emphasized Dr Orsolya Ferencz.

On behalf of Széchenyi István University, Dr Szilvia Nagy, Professor of the Department of Telecommunications, welcomed the young participants and briefly introduced the institution, which is considered a leader in technological fields in Hungary. She highlighted the university's amateur radio club and its state-of-the-art space telecommunications laboratory.

Following this, Dr László Bacsárdi, Vice President of the Hungarian Astronautical Society, recalled the history of the event. "In the 1990s, our organization had the opportunity to send two selected Hungarian youths to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center camp. We asked ourselves: why not organize such an event ourselves? This is how the idea of the Hungarian space camp was born, which we have held annually since 1994. Of course, we have other programs as well, such as the CanSat competition and the 'Heading to Space!' space research competition for the Carpathian Basin organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade," he said.

Over the six days, the campers could attend exciting lectures. Among the presenters were several university instructors: Dr Gábor Sulyok, Professor of the Department of International and European Law at the Deák Ferenc Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, discussed the basic principles and rules of space law in a quick legal crash course, while Dr Dániel Feszty, professor of the Department of Vehicle Development at the Audi Hungaria Faculty of Vehicle Engineering, introduced the campers to the basics of rocket technology. The topic was also explored from the perspective of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority by Dr Péter Vári, deputy director-general of the authority and associate professor of the university's Department of Telecommunications.

In addition to the lectures, the young participants engaged in numerous playful tasks and professional programs. They visited the Mobilis Interactive Exhibit Center located on the Győr campus, where they participated in experimental demonstrations and interactive sessions, as well as the SZESAT Interdisciplinary College of the university, whose communication module has even reached space. They also got to know the work of the Honfy József Amateur Radio Club, which repeated the Zoltán Bay Earth–Moon–Earth radar experiment.

High school students from all parts of the country and from beyond its borders also arrived at the Győr campus of Széchenyi István University for this year's space camp. (Photo: Márton Horváth)