ESA project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski returns from the first Polish mission to the Space Station

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft undocked autonomously from the Space Station on 14 July 2025 at 13:15 CEST. After completing a series of deorbit burns, the spacecraft entered Earth's atmosphere and deployed its parachutes for a water-landing off the coast of California on 15 July at 11:31 CEST.

The Ax-4 crew was launched on 25 June 2025 and spent 18 days on board the Space Station (20 days in space).

Krzysztof Paszyk, Minister of Development and Technology said, "Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski's return from the IGNIS mission is only the beginning. We have shown that Poland has not only the ambition, but also the competence to participate in the most advanced space projects. Now it is time to use this momentum to build a lasting Polish presence in space - in technology, science and industry."

"The Ignis mission is not only a success, but also proof of Poland's growing role in the European Space Agency. We will use this moment to make our presence even stronger in ESA programmes - to the benefit of industry, science and Poland's position in Europe," added Karol Sobczak, Head of the Polish delegation to ESA.

"Ignis mission illustrates the ability of ESA to evolve and implement new opportunities for its Member States. Agility and flexibility are the key words in a fast-evolving environment opening to new commercial endeavours," says ESA's Director of Human and Robotic Exploration Daniel Neuenschwander. "I also want to underline that the splashdown doesn't sign the end of Ignis mission. It is only the beginning of a broader story that will allow the teams of scientists and engineers to use the data collected to foster innovation and technological advancement in Poland."

As part of the Ignis mission, Sławosz conducted a variety of science experiments and technology demonstrations in microgravity. He will now fly directly to Cologne, Germany, where he will be monitored by ESA's space medicine team as he readapts to Earth's gravity at ESA's European Astronaut Centre (EAC) and the German Aerospace Centre's (DLR) ':envihab ' facility.

It is currently foreseen that Sławosz will arrive in Cologne at 10:00 CEST, 16 July.

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Latest updates on the Ignis mission can be found on X via @esaspaceflight and on ESA social media channels.

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The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe's gateway to space.

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