Samantha Cristoforetti

Samantha Cristoforetti is an Italian astronaut, European Space Agency astronaut, and former Italian Air Force fighter pilot. She commanded the International Space Station during Expedition 68.

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European Space Agency: An intergovernmental organization that coordinates European space activities and operates astronaut missions. Cristoforetti joined its astronaut corps and flew on its missions to the International Space Station.
Expedition 42: The International Space Station mission that began in November 2014 and ended in March 2015. Cristoforetti spent nearly 200 days aboard the station as a flight engineer on this expedition.
Astronaut: A person trained to travel and work in space. Cristoforetti's work combines spacecraft operations, scientific research, and crew responsibilities.
Women in space: The history and participation of women in human spaceflight. Cristoforetti's missions and command made her a prominent contemporary woman in space.
Italian Air Force: The air warfare branch of Italy's armed forces. Before becoming an astronaut, Cristoforetti trained and served as a fighter pilot in this force.
Expedition 67: The International Space Station expedition that ran from April to September 2022. Cristoforetti joined this mission after launching on SpaceX Crew-4.
Military aviation: The use of aircraft by armed forces for defense, transport, reconnaissance, and combat. Her fighter-pilot background supplied aviation experience before astronaut selection.
Space station commander: The astronaut responsible for a space station crew's safety, coordination, and mission execution. Cristoforetti's command of the ISS placed her among the leaders responsible for its multinational crew.
Luca Parmitano: An Italian European Space Agency astronaut who commanded the International Space Station during Expedition 61. Like Cristoforetti, Parmitano is an Italian ESA astronaut who led an ISS expedition.
Expedition 68: The International Space Station expedition that began in September 2022 and ended in March 2023. Cristoforetti commanded the station during part of this expedition.