The mission phase of the UHU project has officially come to an end. Nearly a year ago, on June 25, 2025, Tibor Kapu and his fellow astronauts embarked on the Axiom Space’s Ax-4 mission to the International Space Station. During the 18-day mission, the crew carried out numerous scientific investigations, including the UHU experiment. As part of the project, their task was to observe and document the atmospheric electrical activity. From the Cupola of the International Space Station, they recorded lightning and other electrically induced optical phenomena over active thunderstorm regions. Conducted as a collaboration between the HUNOR Hungarian Astronaut Program and the HUN-REN Institute for Earth Physics and Space Science, the mission phase included not only the execution of the experiment itself, but also a comprehensive critical review of its planning and implementation, the collection of operational experience, and the preliminary evaluation of the recorded observations.

The mission phase concluded with a special surprise. Tibor Kapu took several stickers bearing the UHU project mission patch to the International Space Station, and they returned safely to Earth with him. Their journey into space is officially certified by a document issued by mission commander Peggy Whitson. To mark the completion of the mission phase, József Bór, Principal Investigator of the UHU experiment, presented these unique space-flown memorabilia to Dr. István János Kovács, Director General of the HUN-REN Institute for Earth Physics and Space Science.

Another space-flown mission patch sticker was presented to Professor Yoav Yair of Reichman University, Israel, the project’s principal international partner. Through his extensive expertise and active involvement, Professor Yair made a significant contribution to the successful implementation of the experiment.

While the mission phase of the UHU project has now officially concluded, the scientific analysis of the recorded observations is still well underway. The first results will be presented to the scientific community at upcoming conferences in the Earth sciences.