A Polish technological and scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS), with the participation of Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, will launch late May/early June this year and will last 16 days, Jarosław Sułkowski of the Ministry of Development and Technology informed the Sejm on Thursday. We previously wrote about the importance, details and role of the IGNIS mission in the development of the Polish space sector in our December article. 

Copernicus in space 

The IGNIS mission to the ISS will also carry a unique item into orbit: a historical map from the work De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (“On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres”). Published in 1543, the treatise is one of the most important books in the history of science. In it, the Polish astronomer presented the heliocentric model of the solar system, according to which it is the Earth that orbits the Sun, not the other way around. It was a revolutionary theory overturning the geocentric view that had dominated for centuries, in which the Earth was supposed to be the stationary center of the universe. 

The choice of this artifact has a profound symbolic meaning: in 2023 we celebrated the 550th anniversary of the astronomer’s birth, and now his thought literally “rises above the Earth”. 

The map that will fly to the ISS is one of the key representations of the heliocentric model of the universe. Sending it into space is a unique continuation of the Copernican revolution – in a world where his ideas led to the exploration of the solar system and further space exploration. 

Symbolism of the IGNIS mission 

IGNIS, named after the Latin word for “fire”, symbolizes Poland’s energy and ambitions in the space sector. In addition to the Copernicus’ map, other mementos, including a piece of amber and a lump of salt from Wieliczka, reffering to Poland’s natural and cultural heritage, will be brought the ISS. This holds particular meaning in the context of Copernicus – the scientist was born in the area of Royal Prussia, in Toruń, where amber has been a symbol of the region for centuries. 

The IGNIS mission therefore combines modern technological and medical research with a tribute to the history of Polish science. Sending a Copernican artifact into orbit is not only a symbolic gesture, but also a reminder that Polish science has played a key role in the development of space knowledge for centuries. 

The IGNIS mission, with the participation of Dr. Sławosz Uznański, is planned for spring 2025. The exact launch date will be announced soon. 

Sources: gov.pl, polsa.gov.pl, MRiT