A toy lion, a prehistoric Venus and a tram ticket: Czechia’s unusual cargo for space
Czech astronaut Aleš Svoboda could be heading to the International Space Station as early as next year. The national Czech Journey to Space project has now unveiled a selection of objects he may take with him, reflecting the country's history, culture, ingenuity and everyday life.
The Czech flag, seeds from the linden, Czechia’s national tree, an excerpt from Karel Čapek’s play R.U.R. and a plush lion dressed in a miniature flight suit made from Svoboda’s own pilot uniform – these are among the items chosen to represent the country in space.
The call for objects to represent Czechia in space received nearly 1,200 proposals from the public in just one month. A seven-member committee, including representatives of scientific institutions, government ministries and Svoboda himself, selected more than ten symbolic objects, not counting flags, emblems and badges.
However, as Jakub Rozehnal, director of the Prague Observatory and Planetarium and a member of the committee, points out, the selection is not yet final.
“Being selected doesn't automatically mean an object will fly into space. Each one still has to undergo testing to make sure that nothing can be released from it – no substances, solvents or anything like that. I think these little figures and objects still have some tough training ahead of them.”
Among the selected objects are also a replica of the Venus of Dolní Věstonice, a prehistoric figurine dating back around 29,000 years, and a piece from the Merkur construction set, a Czech-made metal building toy. Rozehnal explains what makes Merkur particularly significant.
“It demonstrates practical skills and the ability to improvise. The first machine for moulding contact lenses was actually built using this construction set.”
Rozehnal adds that the set will also need to meet certain safety requirements before it can go into space.
“Very small nuts and bolts are not ideal for space. If you lose one of the tiny nuts from a Merkur set, it can be a real problem, because objects float freely around the spacecraft and you could even inhale one.”
Some of the objects will also be used for demonstrations aboard the ISS, as Svoboda explains:
“A glass cube, for example, is meant to represent the sugar cube, a traditional Czech invention. But because it is made of glass, it can also be used to demonstrate a whole range of physical phenomena, both on Earth and aboard the International Space Station.”
Another object Svoboda will take along is a hockey puck. Czech-made pucks are used in ice hockey stadiums around the world, and for the astronaut they also represent the importance of a healthy body and mind.
“We didn't want the mission to focus exclusively on science and research. We also wanted to highlight the importance of a balanced lifestyle. It's not enough just to study hard, but it's not enough to spend all your time doing sport either. I think people should do a reasonable amount of both.”
One of the most popular suggestions from the public was a historic tram ticket from Brno, Svoboda’s hometown. The city was among the first in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire to introduce public transport, and Svoboda says he wants the ticket to showcase this part of Czech history.
“It should show the world that here in Czechia we have a fairly well-developed and sophisticated public transport system.”
The mission, organised by the US company Vast, is currently scheduled for no earlier than the summer of 2027. Svoboda is expected to serve as pilot aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, with the crew spending around two weeks on the International Space Station.
After the mission, the objects will be made available to the public through museums, libraries and other institutions.
