At the end of September 2022, Samantha Cristoforetti will become the first European female commander of the International Space Station (ISS). When she takes up her new role, she will be the fifth commander of the European Space Agency (ESA) station, following in the footsteps of previous astronauts Frank De Winne, Alexander Gerst, Luca Parmitano and Thomas Pesquet.
“I am very honored to be named commander and look forward to using the experience I have gained in space and on Earth to lead a highly qualified team into orbit,” said Samantha.
Since the start of her Minerva mission in April 2022, this Italian astronaut has been the head of the United States Orbital Segment (USOS) on the ISS, overseeing the activities being carried out in the United States, Europe, Japan and Canada.
ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher highlighted the work: “The selection of Samantha to the position of Commander clearly demonstrates the faith and value our international partners place in ESA astronauts. Over the course of his mission on Minerva, he contributed significantly to the station’s scientific and operational success, and I predict the station will continue to thrive under her command.”
Samantha will officially become commander after a traditional handover ceremony that revolves around the symbolic handing over of a key by the previous commander, her crewmate from the current ISS Expedition 67: Latvian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev of the Russian space agency (Roscosmos).
Ceremony broadcast on TV
The ceremony itself will take place on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 and will be broadcast live from the International Space Station via ESA WebTV.
David Parker, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration, believes that “Samantha’s wealth of knowledge and experience makes her an excellent candidate for this position. As the first European woman to hold the position of commander, she once again pushes the boundaries of female representation in space.”
European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti inside the BEAM (Bigelow Expandable Activity Module) technology demonstrator for the International Space Station. /ESA/NASA
The full title of this position is “International Space Station Crew Commander”. This command is granted based on joint decisions taken by NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe) and CSA (Canada). ESA is represented in this selection process by the head of the European Astronaut Center and Director of the ISS Program, Frank De Winne.
“I’m glad the schedule has shifted to such an extent that Samantha has to step back into the Commander role again,” says Frank, “she has our full support in this important leadership role. There is no doubt that her stewardship will ensure the continued success of the mission.”
This position is vital to the Space Station’s continued success. While flight directors at the control centers decide on the planning and execution of station operations, the station commander is responsible for the performance and well-being of the in-orbit crew, maintaining effective communication with teams on Earth and coordinating the response of the station. crew in case of an emergency.
As Samantha takes charge in the final weeks of her stay on board, one of her key tasks will be to ensure a smooth and complete transfer to the next expedition crew.
ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti surveys her surroundings as she participates in a training session at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. /NASA