Slovak space engineer receives one of the highest astronautics awards (interview)

Ján Baláž has worked on several important space missions.

Space engineer Ján Baláž.Space engineer Ján Baláž. (Source: Archive of Ján Baláž)

"We must admit that we have lagged far behind other European countries that are already well established in the space sector," says space engineer Ján Baláž from the Institute of Experimental Physics of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) in Košice.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

Ján Baláž was recently elected a member of the International Academy of Astronautics. In an interview with the Slovak Spectator, he talks about the election, his past work on space missions, Slovakia's associate membership of the European Space Agency, and more.

SkryťTurn off ads
Súvisiaci článok Slovak astronomers key to new European Solar Telescope Read more 

What does being elected an IAA member mean to you personally?

I really appreciate it, it’s one of the highest awards of merit in space science and astronautics. The academy was founded in 1960 by Theodore von Kármán, a great astronautics pioneer with the goal of bringing together leading experts in the field, exploring and discussing the issues of space research and technology. The Academy is recognized by the United Nations, and its fundamental principles include broad internationalism and the peaceful use of outer space.

Several well-known personalities were members of the IAA, for example the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, rocket technology pioneer Wernher von Braun, and the first man on the moon, Neil Armstrong. Among the current members is the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova, the second man on the moon, Buzz Aldrin, and business magnate Elon Musk.

SkryťTurn off ads

You have worked on several important space missions. What actually contributed to your being elected?

The regular members of the Academy elected me as a corresponding member back in July 2019. An important part, I think, was played by my professional CV. I participated in the preparation of seventeen space missions, including very prestigious ones, such as the Rosetta mission, which successfully landed on a comet’s surface for the first time in history. I worked on a crucial communication system without which the landing would not have been at all possible.

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription - Sign in

Subscription provides you with:
  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk
  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)
  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you
  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

Top stories

Stock image.

Twice as many Ukrainians work in Slovakia now than before the Russian invasion.


Píšem or pišám?

"Do ľava," (to the left) I yelled, "Nie, do prava" (no, to the right), I gasped. "Dolšie," I screamed. "Nie, nie, horšie..." My Slovak girlfriend collapsed in laughter. Was it something I said?


Matthew J. Reynolds
Czech biochemist Jan Konvalinka.

Jan Konvalinka was expecting a pandemic before Covid-19 came along.


SkryťClose ad