Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti will soon be the commander of the International Space Station (ISS), the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Wednesday.
Cristoforetti will take the helm from the current commander,
Russian Oleg Artemyev, to become the first European woman to
hold this position.
"I am humbled by my appointment to the position of commander,"
said Samantha, who has been on the ISS since beginning her
Minerva mission in April.
"I look forward to drawing on the experience I've gained in
space and on Earth to lead a very capable team in orbit."
Cristoforetti, who is in space for the second time, will
officially become commander following a traditional handover
ceremony which centres around the symbolic passing of a key from
the previous commander on 28 September.
"Congratulations Samantha," said Italian Space Agency (ASI)
President Giorgio Saccoccia.
"Her appointment is a reason for special 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
a source of inspiration for young generations".
The 45-year-old became Italy's first woman astronaut during her
first mission in 2014/2015.
She will be only the fifth European commander of the ISS and the
second Italian after Luca Parmitano in 2019-21.
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