More than 300 Hungarian students, scientists, and government officials gathered at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences on Friday for an extraordinary space science Q&A session with Chinese astronauts aboard the China Space Station.
The event, dubbed the Tiangong Classroom, was co-hosted by the China Manned Space Agency, the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Its aim was to deepen the growing cooperation between China and Hungary in aerospace, education, and innovation.
During the session, Shenzhou-20 crew members Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie responded to questions submitted by Hungarian students. In a pre-recorded video, the astronauts also demonstrated zero-gravity science experiments, captivating the audience with real-life examples from space.
Students from over 100 Hungarian schools participated, posing a wide range of space science questions. Many were thrilled to see their inquiries answered directly by astronauts in space.
“I asked what strength-training equipment astronauts use aboard the station, and I also submitted an experiment idea which got selected,” said 16-year-old Tamas Pinter Keresztes from Zrinyi Ilona High School in Nyiregyhaza. As the founder and team leader of Hungary’s first high school rocket development group, Pannon Space Technologies, he shared his excitement: “This kind of cooperation between Hungary and China for promoting science makes me really happy.”
Fifteen-year-old Sara Lovati from ELTE Trefort Agoston High School in Budapest was curious about how microgravity affects the spinal column. “I love astronomy,” she said, hoping to study astrophysics in the future. “I read an article about how astronauts grow taller in space, and I wanted to know their real feelings.”
From Szekesfehervar, 15-year-old Bence Kovacs of Szechenyi Istvan Technical School focused on the circadian cycle in space. He asked how the absence of a natural day-night rhythm affects the human body. “I’ve been following China’s space program online,” he said. “I wish them success in their scientific experiments and, of course, a safe return.”
The student submissions were reviewed anonymously by a panel of scientists, including Adam Boldog, a researcher at the Svabhegy Observatory and one of the event’s scientific coordinators. “We evaluated how relevant the questions were to microgravity, how original they were, and whether they reflected a clear scientific mindset,” he explained.
Ferenc Hudecz, vice president of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, highlighted the significance of the event. “It highlights China’s emergence as a global leader in space research and its serious commitment to inspiring younger generations,” he said.
Chinese Ambassador to Hungary Gong Tao hailed the event as a new chapter in China-Hungary aerospace cooperation. “Only through open cooperation can we climb higher and more challenging peaks of science and technology,” he stated.
The three-member crew aboard the space station was launched into orbit on April 24 for a six-month mission.
