Watch this space: plans revealed for Poland’s first mission to the moon
Poland has made significant strides in the field of space exploration with a government institution now setting its sights on the country’s first ever mission to the moon.
Last Thursday, during the Impact’23 congress in Poznań, Professor Grzegorz Wrochna, the President of the Polish Space Agency (POLSA), revealed plans for a lunar expedition. Initial preparations will begin later this year.
Professor Grzegorz Wrochna, the President of POLSA, said that scientists have flooded the agency with ideas relating to the project.
Speaking to the press, Wrochna said: “We asked our scientists and engineers how they would imagine such an exploratory mission and received a very large and enthusiastic response. Many proposals came in, most of them concerned the Moon because it is our closest neighbour.”
Having built various research instruments used in over 80 missions to different celestial bodies within our solar system, Poland’s space industry has already amply demonstrated its expertise in the area.
Having built various research instruments used in over 80 missions, Poland’s space industry has already demonstrated its expertise in the area.
Expressing his confidence in the agency’s capabilities, he continued: “If we gather the competences of our institutes, universities and commercial companies, we can build a probe that will fly into space.”
Now, says Wrochna, the time has come for Poland to embark on its own space mission.
Now, says Wrochna, the time has come for Poland to embark on its own space mission.
While relatively little is known about it, POLSA has been gaining attention for its ambitious space mission plans, specifically those concerning the moon.
Operating under the Ministry of Development and Technology, the agency’s council is now leading this ground-breaking endeavour.
Real preparations for the mission, however, will begin in earnest this year, starting with Phase A.
Already, a prototype probe is undergoing testing marking a significant milestone in the nation's cosmic ambitions. The plans are bold, even envisioning the construction of lunar bases in the future.
The probe, known as Sony, will employ infrared radiation technology to scan the lunar surface and search for deposits of raw materials that are vital for future space mining efforts and the potential establishment of lunar bases.
Scientists aim to have 'Sony' in lunar orbit within this decade.
Progress has already been made with prototype scanning devices being tested using drone technology above the Earth’s surface.
Real preparations for the mission, however, will begin in earnest this year, starting with Phase A. Scientists aim to have 'Sony' in lunar orbit within this decade.
