Bertalan Farkas

Bertalan Farkas
Intercosmos Cosmonaut
Nationality Hungarian
Born (1949-08-02) August 2, 1949
Gyulaháza, Hungary
Other occupation
 Pilot
Rank Brigadier General, Hungarian Air Force
Time in space
 7d 20h 45m
Selection 1978 Intercosmos Group
Missions Soyuz 36/Soyuz 35
Mission insignia

Bertalan Farkas (born August 2, 1949) is the first Hungarian cosmonaut and the first Esperantist in space.[1] He is currently the president of Airlines Service and Trade. With Charles Simonyi's space travel, Farkas is no longer the only Hungarian who has been to space (he is still the only astronaut, as Simonyi flew as a space tourist).

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 (UTC).

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.[2]

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

References

  1. ↑ (Hungarian) Szilvási László, Az első eszperantista űrhajós (the first Esperantist cosmonaut), eszperanto.hu, Hungara Vivo, 1/1981.
  2. ↑ (in Russian)Biography at the website on Heroes of the Soviet Union and Russia

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