Samantha Cristoforetti Appointed as Commander of the ISS by ASI

Samantha Cristoforetti, the ESA astronaut, has been appointed as the new commander of the International Space Station, replacing Oleg Artemyev from the Expedition 67 crew. This announcement by the ASI makes Samantha Cristoforetti the first Italian and European female astronaut to take command of the International Space Station.

“I am honored to be appointed as commander,” says AstroSamantha, “and I am excited to use my experience from space and Earth to lead a highly capable team into orbit.”

“Samantha’s selection as commander clearly demonstrates the trust and value that our international partners place in ESA astronauts,” adds Josef Aschbacher, the General Director of the European Space Agency.

“Congratulations to Samantha,” says Giorgio Saccoccia, the President of the Italian Space Agency. “Her appointment is a source of great pride for Italy and Europe. As the first European woman to hold the position of commander of the International Space Station, Samantha will once again be an inspiration for younger generations. This significant role, which has been assigned to an Italian astronaut for the second time, confirms Italy’s role and importance in the field of space exploration and international space activities. Good luck Samantha, from the entire Italian Space Agency and your fellow citizens!”

Samantha Cristoforetti’s second mission on the ISS, named Minerva, began on April 27th, 2022, with the liftoff of the Crew-4 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Since then, she has been actively involved in scientific activities and conducting various experiments, including six experiments from the Italian Space Agency in fields such as health, neuroscience, radiation, and feeding.

Throughout the Minerva mission, Samantha has been responsible for monitoring the activity in the United States Orbital Segment (USOS), which includes modules and components from the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Canada.

On July 21st, Cristoforetti achieved another milestone by completing her first spacewalk, making her the first European female astronaut to perform an extravehicular activity. This record will soon be accompanied by her new role as commander of the International Space Station, which will begin on September 28th.