Bertalan Farkas


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

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.
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.

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 in the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem in Hungary.