Simulated space mission PROMISE with reserve astronaut Aleš Svoboda

From September 6 to 8, 2024, the simulated space mission named PROMISE took place at the Little Moon City Prague (LMCP) science training center at CTU Prague. A key participant in this mission was Major Aleš Svoboda, a combat pilot and reserve astronaut for the European Space Agency (ESA). The mission, organized by LMCP in collaboration with the Czech Academy of Sciences and financially supported by our foundation, focused on promoting space research and supporting the Czech space industry.

The PROMISE mission was held in the unique LMCP training center in Prague. The center included the Hydronaut H03 DeepLab deep habitat, the Mission Control Center, and an area for simulating extravehicular activities (EVA Area). 

The mission’s main program was divided into two parts—scientific and outreach. During the scientific portion of the mission, the crew, composed of Aleš Svoboda, engineer Matyáš Šanda, and hyperbaric medicine specialist Miroslav Rozložník, spent 48 hours in isolation inside the Hydronaut habitat. The goal was to simulate a flight to the Moon, during which the crew conducted various scientific experiments. The mission also included a simulated moonwalk using virtual reality, during which the crew collected geological samples.

The outreach part of the mission was managed by LMCP’s Science Studio, which offered fifteen-minute presentations on scientific projects and companies involved in space research. 

LMCP is a comprehensive training center at CTU in Prague. Established in 2023, the center was created by moving the Hydronaut H03 DeepLab habitat from its original location under the surface of a flooded quarry to its current placement in a dry dock at the CTU campus. LMCP provides an environment for simulated research in extreme conditions and is regularly used for scientific missions and astronaut training.

Our foundation supported the PROMISE mission and the upcoming Mars Expedition with a contribution of 250,000 CZK.

Photo:

• ESA Reserve Astronaut Aleš Svoboda
• Hydronaut H03 DeepLab Habitat