site.btaPresident Receives American Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev talked with Michael Lopez-Alegria, an American former NASA astronaut and current chief astronaut at Axiom Space, Radev's press secretariat reported on Wednesday. The veteran of three Space Shuttle missions and one International Space Station mission, who had 10 launches into outer space for NASA and holds the agency's record with a total of 67 hours and 40 minutes spent outside spacecraft, was received by the Bulgarian head of state at the Boyana Residence in Sofia on Wednesday.

Lopez-Alegria arrived in Bulgaria for the fourth edition of the festival "Hello Space, Bulgaria Calling", which was held on Tuesday. The meeting with the President was also attended by US Ambassador to Bulgaria Kenneth Merten.

The discussion focused on stimulating young Bulgarians' interest in science and space exploration and the importance of such endeavours for the future of humanity. Radev highlighted Bulgaria's traditions and achievements in space exploration, the propensity which many young people in this country show for the natural sciences, and the importance of Bulgaria's partnership with the US in scientific research, the introduction of modern learning programmes and the transfer of technologies.