On Wednesday, India, Poland, and Hungary sent their first astronauts into space in over four decades through a private flight arranged by Axiom Space, with ticket costs exceeding $65 million per astronaut. The SpaceX Falcon rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The diverse crew included experienced astronaut Peggy Whitson and representatives from each nation, carrying with them traditional foods celebrating their cultures. Hungary's first astronaut, Bertalan Farkas, emphasized the importance of international collaboration in space exploration as they continue a legacy of human spaceflight for their countries.
For such a small country as Hungary, it is really important to collaborate in a peaceful international space cooperation. This is one of the most important moments of my life.
The astronauts are flying food that celebrates their heritage: Indian curry and rice with mango nectar; spicy Hungarian paprika paste; and freeze-fried Polish pierogies.
Uznanski-Wisniewski carried up the Polish flag worn on his predecessor's spacesuit, expressing pride in following the legacy of Miroslaw Hermaszewski, who was his biggest supporter.
The launch marked a significant milestone as it was the first time in more than 40 years that India, Poland, and Hungary sent astronauts into space.
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