News, Czech astronaut to fly to ISS, Czechs and FIFA, Czech linguists recording stories of El Salvador's Nahuat Pipil, Prague's new development plan

Czechia is making history on multiple fronts, from space to sport to cultural preservation. The most groundbreaking development is the upcoming mission of Czech astronaut Aleš Svoboda, who is set to become the first Czech citizen to fly to the International Space Station as a pilot aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft—marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s space ambitions. This mission, backed by a landmark agreement between the European Space Agency and US-based VAST, will carry 13 Czech scientific experiments focused on human physiology, AI modeling, nanorobots, and cancer research. Meanwhile, the Czech national football team is preparing for its first World Cup appearance in 20 years, facing South Korea in a high-stakes opener amid questions about coach Miroslav Koubek’s suitability and the team’s ability to adapt to the grueling travel demands. On a cultural front, Czech linguists are racing to preserve the Nahuat Pipil language of El Salvador—spoken by just 280,000 people—by recording oral traditions, myths, and ancestral knowledge from elders like 86-year-old potter Nancy Fidelina, with the goal of publishing a bilingual book. In Prague, a long-delayed zoning plan has finally passed, promising up to 65,000 new apartments over 20 years, though critics warn it may prioritize developers over schools and healthcare.