Obuda University can strengthen its international positions in the field of space research within the framework of the ‘HU-RIZONT International Excellence Research Cooperation Program'

Rice University located in Houston —often referred to as the space capital of the United States— has been a key player in the country’s space research and space industry ecosystem for many decades. President Kennedy delivered his famous ‘We choose to go to the Moon’ speech here in 1962, and it is also the university where Peggy Whitson, commander of the Axiom-4 mission that brought Tibor Kapu to the International Space Station, as well as three other Nobel Prize–winning scientists earned their doctoral degrees.

The Rice Space Institute operating at the university is an internationally recognized center of excellence in research on space robotics, human spaceflight, sustainable space activities, and the cislunar economy, actively linking academic research with governmental and industrial space programs. The institute’s innovation and entrepreneurship activities are complemented by the Ion innovation hub, one of Houston’s key technology and startup centers, which supports the commercialization of university research, industrial collaborations, and the creation of deep-tech spin-offs, with a particular focus on space, digital, and dual-use technologies.

The international consortium, expanded to include Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, aims to establish a transatlantic collaboration that will make a significant contribution to the development of sustainable space technologies and to laying the foundations of the cislunar space economy.

The HORIZON-X project promises not only new scientific results but also tangible technological innovations. One of the key research objectives is the development of an AI-supported autonomous lunar rover prototype which, following field testing in environments simulating extreme conditions, may be capable of identifying water ice on the lunar surface. The data generated during the development will be stored in a structured, searchable database, providing long-term support for further research and industrial utilization.

In addition, the project will contribute to increasing the reliability of space robotic systems by integrating formal methodologies and prognostic digital twin models in a unified framework. This approach enables predictive analysis of critical systems and reduces operational risks.

Within the human-centered research pillar, the project will develop an interface module that can be integrated into a spacesuit and is based on biometric feedback, aiming to enhance astronaut safety and performance. In connection with this system, a digital twin–based simulation environment will also be created to examine ergonomic and human–machine interaction aspects, which may also be relevant for terrestrial applications, such as in healthcare or industry.

As a comprehensive outcome of the project, a cislunar sustainability and space economy framework will be developed to serve as a foundation for future lunar infrastructure and economic planning. The framework integrates in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), space situational awareness (SSA), space debris management, and circular economy principles, as well as investment considerations, thereby contributing to the establishment of responsible and economically viable space activities in the long term.

The leadership of our university’s space technology proposal is provided by SpaceLab, which is part of the University Research and Innovation Center, which has gained recognition through its dynamic development in recent years. The research will also make a significant contribution to enhancing the international visibility and competitiveness of the Hungarian space sector, while creating new opportunities for the involvement of PhD students and early-career researchers.

Securing HU-RIZONT funding reinforces Óbuda University’s position at the forefront of international space research and space industry collaborations, and provides long-term support for Hungary’s active participation in the global space economy and in shaping sustainable space activities.