ESA signs an Agreement with Vast on behalf of the Czech Republic
The European Space Agency (ESA) will implement an astronaut mission to the International Space Station for the Czech Republic.
The flight will be part of the first private astronaut mission to the International Space Station that NASA has awarded to Vast.
June 8, 2026 — Subject to Multilateral Crew Operations Panel (MCOP) review and approval, Aleš Svoboda, one of the 12 members of the astronaut reserve selected by ESA in November 2022, will serve as the mission’s pilot. The MCOP’s decisions are reached through consensus among representatives from all five International Space Station partners: NASA, ESA, Roscosmos, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. Pending approval, Aleš Svoboda will become the first Czech astronaut to visit the International Space Station. Svoboda is planned to join ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who is named Commander for the VAST mission.
The mission is planned for 2027, with transportation provided by SpaceX on a Dragon spacecraft launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.
“This agreement demonstrates how ESA is enabling its Member States to participate in human spaceflight through a new generation of commercial partnerships,” said Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s Director General. “We applaud NASA’s effort to enable this commercial activity. It supports the Czech Republic’s ambitions while reinforcing Europe’s broader objectives in exploration, innovation and long-term capability development.”
“For the third time, ESA is supporting its Member States with exploration through commercial access to space,” said Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director for Human and Robotic Exploration. “ESA is working closely with the Czech Republic to provide them with our decades of expertise in the field of human spaceflight. This new mission will help drive forward technological advancements, supporting the development of technological and scientific expertise in the country.”
Aleš Svoboda just finished his Astronaut Reserve Training at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre located in Cologne, Germany. Should MCOP approval be granted, he will enter a new phase of his journey and begin mission-specific training for the International Space Station.
“This mission is an important milestone for the Czech Republic and a strategic investment into our future technological capabilities, science, industry, and education. Space technologies already influence many sectors with high added value, from telecommunications and cybersecurity to manufacturing. Through this mission, we want to strengthen the Czech Republic’s industrial and technological base, support the involvement of Czech companies and research institutions in top international projects, and inspire a new generation of engineers, scientists, and innovators,” said Karel Havlíček, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.
“This mission confirms that the Czech Republic has the expertise, talent, and determination to contribute to the most advanced international projects of our time. The participation of a Czech pilot and ESA reserve astronaut reflects the high level of Czech readiness and professional excellence. The Czech Republic has long invested in innovation, technology, and human potential, and this mission demonstrates that Czech capabilities can succeed at the highest level of space exploration and technological progress. We see this not only as an investment in one mission, but in the future of our country,” said Jaromír Zůna, Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic.
“We are proud to expand our partnership with the Czech Republic and support this mission to the International Space Station implemented together with the European Space Agency,” said Max Haot, CEO of Vast. “The Czech Republic has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing its role in the global space economy, and we look forward to working closely with ESA and the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade on this historic mission.”
“This mission demonstrates the strong and long-term partnership between the Czech Republic and the European Space Agency. Thanks to ESA’s expertise and international cooperation framework, Czech research institutions, universities, and companies will gain valuable experience and new opportunities to participate in advanced space activities. The mission is also an important step in strengthening the Czech Republic’s position within the European space ecosystem,” said Václav Kobera, Director of New Technologies and the Czech Space Agency at the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade and Head of Delegation of the Czech Republic to ESA.
This initiative is an important step forward for the Czech Republic’s engagement in the new era of commercial space exploration. It demonstrates the framework for collaboration across government, academia, and industry. For this mission, the Czech Republic will benefit from ESA’s decades of expertise in mission and payload preparation, implementation of scientific experiments in microgravity environments, and post-flight rehabilitation.
About the European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.
ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
ESA has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members.
ESA has established formal cooperation with three Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.
By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with EUMETSAT for the development of meteorological missions.
About Czech Space Journey
Czech Space Journey is a national strategic initiative of the Czech Republic focused on advancing science, education, innovation, space activities, and international cooperation. Officially launched in 2024, the initiative supports the mission of Czech ESA reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda to the International Space Station. The programme also includes educational and outreach activities aimed at inspiring young people to pursue careers in science, technology, and engineering.
The initiative connects government institutions, universities, research organisations, planetariums, science centres, and industry partners with the goal of strengthening the Czech Republic’s involvement in advanced international space programmes and technological development.
The Czech Republic has been a Member State of ESA since 2008 and today has a rapidly growing space sector spanning satellite technologies, robotics, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and scientific research. In 2024, the Czech Republic and Vast signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore cooperation on future human spaceflight missions and commercial space station opportunities.
Source: Vast
