The Polish Space Agency (POLSA) has announced the recruitment of ham radio operators to establish radio communications with Polish astronaut during the IGNIS mission. 

The launch of the Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) with participation of Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski will take place on May 29. As part of the activities during the mission, several periods have been planned, during which the astronaut will establish scheduled radio communications with domestic ham radio operators. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski joined the ham radio community in May 2024, thus gaining the authority to make radio calls, including while in space. 

POLSA is waiting for applications from ham radio operators or amateur radio club members who wish to establish communications with Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski while on the ISS.  Applications are sent via a form available on the POLSA website. 

“From all the applications, we will select people who will be put on the list of radio amateurs with whom the astronaut will be able to make a so-called QSO, or actually SKED, which is an agreed communication. After successful communication, ham radio operators will receive commemorative QSL cards. First of all, applications from youth and youth radio clubs will be selected. Subsequently, the date of sending the application will be decided,” the release stated. 

POLSA will be informing about the results of the recruitment individually by e-mail.