Space age education

The practical space age began in the 1950s. Its origins are well known. It is generally accepted that the broader concept of modern space commercialization emerged at the beginning of the 21st century [3]. Development will continue in both the civilian and military spheres, as evidenced by the works included in this issue of "Przegląd Komunikacyjny" [1, 2]. A new industry is developing before our eyes. Countries wishing to build this type of business must not only provide adequate financial resources but also contribute to the training of human resources in the field of advanced technologies. The development of space education in Poland to date has been spontaneous. Pioneers recognized emerging opportunities and undertook initiatives based on existing knowledge from other areas of human education and activity. For example, during a classic graduate seminar at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Wrocław University of Science and Technology, "Future-oriented" fields of study were defined. In 2000, one of the graduate students at the time became interested in space issues and, along with colleagues from other institutions, became a founding member of the "Mars Society Polska," originally established by Robert Zubrin from the USA in 1998, focusing on Mars colonization and exploration projects. The then-student is currently among the founding members of the Mars Society.