Bertalan Farkas

Bertalan Farkas (born August 2, 1949) is the first Hungarian cosmonaut, space explorer, fighter pilot. The Hungarians were the seventh nation to be represented in space by him.[1] Following him, the Hungarian-American Károly Simonyi (Charles Simonyi) was the second Hungarian cosmonaut, the only one in the world, who was twice in space as space tourist who paid himself for the spaceflights.[2] The next Hungarian astronaut will travel to the International Space Station by 2025.[3] Farkas is the first Esperantist cosmonaut too.[4] He is currently the president of Airlines Service and Trade.

The native form of this personal name is Farkas Bertalan. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.
Bertalan Farkas
Born (1949-08-02) August 2, 1949
Gyulaháza, Hungary
NationalityHungarian
OccupationPilot
Space career
Intercosmos Cosmonaut
RankBrigadier General, Hungarian Air Force
Time in space
7d 20h 45m
Selection1978 Intercosmos Group
MissionsSoyuz 36/Soyuz 35
Mission insignia

Early life and military career

Born in Gyulaháza, he graduated from the George Kilián Aeronautical College in Szolnok in 1969. He then attended the Krasnodar Military Aviation Institute in the Soviet Union, from where he graduated in 1972.

After earning his qualifications at University, Farkas joined the Hungarian Air Force and rose to the rank of Brigadier General.

Attended to Bessenyei Gyorgy Gimnazium High School in Kisvarda.

Intercosmos program

In 1978 he volunteered to become a cosmonaut and was selected as part of the fifth international programme for Intercosmos. His backup cosmonaut was Béla Magyari.

Farkas, along with Soviet cosmonaut Valeri Kubasov, was launched into space on Soyuz 36 from Baikonur Cosmodrome on May 26, 1980, at 18:20 (UTC).

While in orbit, Farkas conducted experiments in material science. After 7 days, 20 hours and 45 minutes, and having completed 124 orbits, Farkas and Kubasov returned to Earth, landing 140 km southeast of Jezkazgan. Bertalan Farkas was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on June 30, 1980.[5]

Personal life

Farkas is married to Anikó Farkas, and has four children: Gábor, Aida, Ádám and Bertalan. He loves tennis and plays it often.

He was a member of the Hungarian Democratic Forum, a Hungarian conservative political party, and was its candidate at the 2006 parliamentary election in the Baktalórántháza election district. He holds the rank of Commander (CLJ) in the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem in Hungary.

References
  1. Attila, Béres (2018-05-06). "Hogyan lettünk a világ hetedik űrhajós nemzete? - Nyolc magyar, aki nélkül nem történhetett volna meg". Qubit (in Hungarian). Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  2. Harwood, William (2009-03-26). "Tourist and 2 Others on Way to Space Station". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  3. "Elkezdik keresni az új magyar űrhajost - nyilatkozta Szijjártó". euronews (in Hungarian). 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2019-12-14.
  4. (in Hungarian) Szilvási László, Az első eszperantista űrhajós (the first Esperantist cosmonaut), eszperanto.hu, Hungara Vivo, 1/1981.
  5. (in Russian) Biography at the website on Heroes of the Soviet Union and Russia

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