Tibor Kapu, a 32-year-old mechanical engineer with a background in battery development in the automotive industry, has been picked to become the next Hungarian astronaut, Szijjártó said. His backup for the mission is the 35-year-old electrical engineer Gyula Cserenyi, he added.

The two men were among four candidates in the Hungarian to Orbit (Hunor) program.

Hungary will send an astronaut to the International Space Station, with the cooperation of US-based Axiom Space, for a 30-day research mission at the end of 2024 or early in 2025.