Mission IGNIS
Lesson 1: Introduction to Life on the ISS
21 Jul 2025
Life in space is a daily routine filled with challenges, extraordinary views, and continuous learning. During the first lesson from the International Space Station, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski shared his experiences from the initial days in orbit and demonstrated what it is like to work in a state of weightlessness.
The First Days of a Polak in Orbit — Adaptation and Emotions
2 July 2025, the Polish reserve astronaut of ESA, Dr Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, connected live with participants of a lesson gathered at the EC1 Science and Technology Centre in Łódź. This was the first in a series of educational broadcasts conducted as part of the IGNIS mission — the historic, first Polish scientific and technological mission to the ISS.
In his account, the astronaut emphasised that although Earth-based training prepares well for space conditions, the first hours and days on the station are a significant challenge for both body and mind. — “You have to learn to move anew,” said Sławosz. Every gesture that seems natural on Earth requires thought in microgravity — a hand pushed off a rail sets the body in motion in the opposite direction, and an unsecured item immediately starts to float and circle around the module.
He also described the initial moments after docking: a quick health check of the crew, allocation of sleeping spaces, unpacking of equipment, and commencement of the experiment schedule. — “At first, you feel a slight dizziness in your head as bodily fluids shift towards the head. Pressure and perception of stimuli change. But after 2–3 days, you start to feel at home.”
Life in Weightlessness — Demonstrations and Curiosities
The astronaut demonstrated to the participants what it is like to move freely in the cabin: he performed a spin around his own axis and showed that without a point of anchorage, it is difficult to stop. He also mentioned that even sleeping in a state of weightlessness is peculiar: “In a sleeping bag attached to the wall, I feel a bit like in a cocoon. At first, I miss the feeling of the ground beneath my back.”
As part of the lesson, he also presented one of the simplest yet most impressive experiments: how water behaves in microgravity. He squeezed a drop of water from a bag and showed how it forms a perfect sphere, floating in the air and clinging to his hand. After a gentle push, the drop began bouncing between his fingers, demonstrating how surface tension works and the absence of gravitational force. The demonstration made a strong impression on the audience.
— “Here, everything is different. Water does not fall — it simply remains in the air until you catch it or it sticks to a surface,” explained Sławosz.
Q&A Session — On Life, Emotions, and Science
Students and teachers gathered at EC1 asked questions, which the astronaut eagerly answered. There were questions about the feelings accompanying the first view of Earth (“You can see only a thin layer of atmosphere and a vast blackness around — it makes an impression that is hard to describe”), about life support systems (“We breathe air that we mostly produce from water through electrolysis”), as well as about what is most challenging on the station (“Moving around and daily hygiene — that is something you have to learn”).
In conclusion, he emphasised that every moment in space is not only a duty but also a great privilege. — “When I look at Earth through the window, I feel that all the years of preparation were worth it. At the same time, I feel a responsibility for every experiment and to represent Poland well.”
Watch the lesson recording
The full recording of the first lesson is available on the YouTube channel of the Polska Agencja Kosmiczna (the lesson starts at 57 minutes into the recording):
Read more
Lesson 1: Introduction to Life on the ISS
Read more
Lesson 1: Introduction to Life on the ISS
Read more
Lesson 1: Introduction to Life on the ISS
Read more
The Ax-4 mission concluded successfully – the crew has returned to Earth
Read more
The Ax-4 mission concluded successfully – the crew has returned to Earth
Read more
The Ax-4 mission concluded successfully – the crew has returned to Earth
Education
We educate, inspire, and discover
Our mission is to inspire and educate – we believe that the future begins with knowledge. We create an educational space for those who aspire to reach higher.
Education
We educate, inspire, and discover
Our mission is to inspire and educate – we believe that the future begins with knowledge. We create an educational space for those who aspire to reach higher.
Education
We educate, inspire, and discover
Our mission is to inspire and educate – we believe that the future begins with knowledge. We create an educational space for those who aspire to reach higher.
Mission IGNIS
Lesson 1: Introduction to Life on the ISS
21 Jul 2025
Life in space is a daily routine filled with challenges, extraordinary views, and continuous learning. During the first lesson from the International Space Station, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski shared his experiences from the initial days in orbit and demonstrated what it is like to work in a state of weightlessness.
The First Days of a Polak in Orbit — Adaptation and Emotions
2 July 2025, the Polish reserve astronaut of ESA, Dr Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, connected live with participants of a lesson gathered at the EC1 Science and Technology Centre in Łódź. This was the first in a series of educational broadcasts conducted as part of the IGNIS mission — the historic, first Polish scientific and technological mission to the ISS.
In his account, the astronaut emphasised that although Earth-based training prepares well for space conditions, the first hours and days on the station are a significant challenge for both body and mind. — “You have to learn to move anew,” said Sławosz. Every gesture that seems natural on Earth requires thought in microgravity — a hand pushed off a rail sets the body in motion in the opposite direction, and an unsecured item immediately starts to float and circle around the module.
He also described the initial moments after docking: a quick health check of the crew, allocation of sleeping spaces, unpacking of equipment, and commencement of the experiment schedule. — “At first, you feel a slight dizziness in your head as bodily fluids shift towards the head. Pressure and perception of stimuli change. But after 2–3 days, you start to feel at home.”
Life in Weightlessness — Demonstrations and Curiosities
The astronaut demonstrated to the participants what it is like to move freely in the cabin: he performed a spin around his own axis and showed that without a point of anchorage, it is difficult to stop. He also mentioned that even sleeping in a state of weightlessness is peculiar: “In a sleeping bag attached to the wall, I feel a bit like in a cocoon. At first, I miss the feeling of the ground beneath my back.”
As part of the lesson, he also presented one of the simplest yet most impressive experiments: how water behaves in microgravity. He squeezed a drop of water from a bag and showed how it forms a perfect sphere, floating in the air and clinging to his hand. After a gentle push, the drop began bouncing between his fingers, demonstrating how surface tension works and the absence of gravitational force. The demonstration made a strong impression on the audience.
— “Here, everything is different. Water does not fall — it simply remains in the air until you catch it or it sticks to a surface,” explained Sławosz.
Q&A Session — On Life, Emotions, and Science
Students and teachers gathered at EC1 asked questions, which the astronaut eagerly answered. There were questions about the feelings accompanying the first view of Earth (“You can see only a thin layer of atmosphere and a vast blackness around — it makes an impression that is hard to describe”), about life support systems (“We breathe air that we mostly produce from water through electrolysis”), as well as about what is most challenging on the station (“Moving around and daily hygiene — that is something you have to learn”).
In conclusion, he emphasised that every moment in space is not only a duty but also a great privilege. — “When I look at Earth through the window, I feel that all the years of preparation were worth it. At the same time, I feel a responsibility for every experiment and to represent Poland well.”
Watch the lesson recording
The full recording of the first lesson is available on the YouTube channel of the Polska Agencja Kosmiczna (the lesson starts at 57 minutes into the recording):
Read more
Lesson 1: Introduction to Life on the ISS
Read more
Lesson 1: Introduction to Life on the ISS
Read more
Lesson 1: Introduction to Life on the ISS
Read more
The Ax-4 mission concluded successfully – the crew has returned to Earth
Read more
The Ax-4 mission concluded successfully – the crew has returned to Earth
Read more
The Ax-4 mission concluded successfully – the crew has returned to Earth
Education
We educate, inspire, and discover
Our mission is to inspire and educate – we believe that the future begins with knowledge. We create an educational space for those who aspire to reach higher.
Education
We educate, inspire, and discover
Our mission is to inspire and educate – we believe that the future begins with knowledge. We create an educational space for those who aspire to reach higher.
Education
We educate, inspire, and discover
Our mission is to inspire and educate – we believe that the future begins with knowledge. We create an educational space for those who aspire to reach higher.