(MENAFN) Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu made a triumphant return to Budapest on Monday, receiving a hero’s welcome following his mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

Kapu touched down at Liszt Ferenc International Airport, arriving on a Hungarian Defence Forces aircraft.

He proudly stepped onto the runway clutching the national tricolor flag. Photographs of him waving the flag were widely featured across Hungarian news outlets.

A large crowd gathered to honor him, many donning shirts representing the Hungarian to Orbit (HUNOR) initiative and holding up supportive banners.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban also greeted Kapu’s return, sharing a message on social media that read: "Welcome home, Tibor Kapu!"

During his time from June 25 to July 15 aboard the ISS, Kapu participated in the Axiom-4 mission alongside astronauts from the United States, India, and Poland.

Over the course of the mission, he conducted 25 scientific experiments covering a broad range of fields including medicine, biology, material sciences, physics, meteorology, and agricultural engineering.

The HUNOR program, established in 2021, aims to strengthen Hungary’s involvement in international space research.

Kapu’s journey is Hungary’s first manned spaceflight since Bertalan Farkas, the country’s inaugural astronaut, flew in 1980.

This mission symbolizes a significant revival of Hungary’s active role in space exploration after a 45-year interval.

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