Samantha Cristoforetti is the first European astronaut to lead the International Space Station

Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti will be the first European woman to lead the International Space Station (ISS), during Expedition 68 which will see it in orbit in 2022. The announcement is made by the European Space Agency (ESA).

Samantha Cristoforetti

For her part, Samantha Cristoforetti says she is honored with the new and very important appointment. "Returning to the International Space Station to represent Europe is an honor in itself." This is how AstroSamantha expresses himself who adds: “I am honored to be appointed commander and I look forward to drawing on the experience I have acquired in space and on Earth to lead a very competent team in orbit”. Born in Milano on April 26, 1977, Samantha Cristoforetti obtained her scientific high school diploma in Trento in 1996, after having attended the linguistic high school in Bolzano and one year of school in the United States. In 2001 he graduated in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Munich. Specifically, it specializes in aerospace propulsion and light structures.

Summarizing the full-bodied and substantial curriculum of the new commander of the International Space Station is certainly not an easy task. The extraordinary AstroSamantha, in 2005, also obtained a degree in aeronautical sciences at the Federico II University of Naples. The brilliant career is a continuous crescendo, studded with coveted goals and great satisfactions. In fact, in 2005 AstroSamantha was sent to the United States, where he attends the training program "Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training”At Sheppard Air Force Base. After obtaining the military pilot's license, she returned to Italy where she was assigned to the 51st Wing of Istrana on the AM-X aircraft. In July 2015 AstroSamantha was awarded by the President of the Republic of the honor of Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. And, to embellish the already rich curriculum, also the honorary degrees conferred by the University of Pavia, the Polytechnic of Turin and the Vrije Universitaet of Amsterdam.

AstroSamantha Unicef ​​ambassador

Samantha Cristoforetti is also a Unicef ​​ambassador. In fact, he donated the proceeds from the sales of his book to the international organization that deals with children Diary of an astronaut apprentice. A 'stellar' diary of a strong and tenacious woman who has established herself in a profession that is certainly not as easy as that of the astronaut. A woman who represents Italian ingenuity in the world.