Aleš Svoboda is a Czech Air Force major, fighter pilot, and astronaut reserve member of the European Space Agency (ESA). Born in 1986 in Brno, Czechoslovakia, he developed an early fascination with space through visits to the local planetarium. His academic journey reflects his deep technical and scientific curiosity—he earned a bachelor’s degree in Military Technology, followed by a master’s in Transport Engineering, and later completed a PhD in Aircraft and Rocket Technology at the University of Defence in Brno. His doctoral research focused on the aerodynamics of aircraft under unsteady flow conditions. He also pursued professional military education in the United States, graduating from the International Officer School and Squadron Officer School at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.
Since joining the Czech Armed Forces in 2005, Svoboda has had a distinguished military career. He became a Czech Air Force pilot in 2008 and has since flown over 1,500 hours in various advanced military aircraft, including the JAS-39 Gripen and L-159 ALCA. Over the years, he has undertaken specialized training in parachuting, survival, and electronic warfare. Notably, he served in Estonia as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission and held several key roles including Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) commander and senior weapons and tactics officer within the 211th Tactical Squadron.
In 2022, Aleš Svoboda was selected by ESA as a member of the Astronaut Reserve, chosen from a pool of over 22,500 applicants. His selection was a milestone for Czech space ambitions, and he began his formal astronaut training in 2024 at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. In May 2025, he was officially selected by the Czech government for a future space mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This mission, which will include 14 scientific and technological experiments, represents a major step for Czech participation in human spaceflight and international research collaboration.
Outside his professional life, Svoboda is passionate about sports, including ice hockey, badminton, scuba diving, and orienteering. He is also an active glider and commercial pilot. His enthusiasm for science, education, and pushing the limits of human capability makes him not only a role model for the next generation but also a key figure in the growing field of Czech space exploration.
