The Hungarian Spacelab Network will advance cooperation and build on results, including experiments conducted by the Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu, Culture and Innovation Minister Balázs Hankó said at the signing ceremony.

He added that Hungary’s presence in the space industry and in space research was a mark of the country’s excellence in research, education and science.

He said many had expressed doubts when the Hungarian to Orbit (Hunor) program had launched, but now the goal had been achieved.

He acknowledged the support of HUN-REN, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Culture and Innovation Ministry, and local universities in achieving that goal.