A replica of the legendary Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), co-created by Prof. Mieczysław Bekker—an eminent engineer and scientist with strong ties to the city—will be constructed in Konin. This initiative is one of several projects planned to mark the 120th anniversary of his birth.
Prof. Bekker, born in 1905 in Strzyżów, spent his formative years in Konin, residing in Cukrownia Gosławice and graduating from the Men’s Humanities Gymnasium. Following the war, he worked for General Motors and NASA, among others, leading a team that developed the technology that enabled the rover to traverse the Moon’s surface.
The city of Konin has declared 2025 the Year of Mieczysław Bekker. As part of the celebrations, a replica of the LRV will be built. The foundation will be a two-seater prototype constructed by students from III High School in Konin. With support from sponsors and local businesses, it will be transformed into a vehicle inspired by the original rover, using documentation provided by Dr. Andrzej Selenta, who manages the professor’s archive.
The replica will be displayed in the historic Zemełka house, the former site of the school from which Bekker graduated. The renovated building will house a multimedia exhibition dedicated to the history of Konin and its distinguished residents. Plans also include a room dedicated to Prof. Bekker and a space flight simulator.
To further commemorate the occasion, the city and local associations are organizing a series of events, including lectures, guided walks tracing Bekker’s legacy, joint observations of the Perseids, and a Science Festival in October.
Prof. Bekker was also honored by the Polish Senate in a commemorative resolution adopted on May 28 this year. The resolution stated that the purpose of honoring him was to “raise awareness of the global contributions of Poland and Poles to modern technology and to strengthen the scientific community’s efforts to become a significant presence in Polish social and economic life.” The Senate also encouraged young people to “be inspired by this exceptionally forward-thinking figure.”
Source: Science in Poland, konin.pl
