Italian Cristoforetti will be the first European woman to command the International Space Station

ROME, May 28 (EFE) – The European Space Agency (ESA) today announced that Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti will be the first European woman to command the International Space Station (ISS).

“ ESA astronaut Samantha Christoforetti will be the commander of the International Space Station on ‘Mission 68’. (…) As a member of the crew of ‘Crew-4’, along with NASA astronauts Kjell Lindgren and Bob Hines, will be launched Samantha to the ISS from Florida, USA, in 2022. “

“This will be the second space mission for Samantha, who will become the first European woman to command the International Space Station,” he added.

The three astronauts will travel with SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, billionaire Elon Musk’s company.

“She is the best in the job,” said Josef Ashbacher, Director General of the European Space Agency, on social media, stressing that Cristoforetti is “an inspiration” for everyone.

Cristoforetti was emotional and asserted that “returning to the International Space Station on behalf of Europe is truly an honor in itself.”

“The appointment to the position of commander is another reason for professional satisfaction. I will humbly try to utilize the experience I have gained in space and on the ground to lead my team of exceptional people,” he said. Italian.

The head of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Giorgio Sacocchia, congratulated Cristoforetti and said that they “are proud of this election, which is the culmination of an impeccable career and a tribute to the excellence of Italy and Europe in space.

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