Samantha Cristoforetti

European Space Agency astronaut

Personal data

Born in Milan, Italy, on 26 April 1977 Cristoforetti enjoys hiking, scuba diving, practicing yoga, reading, and travelling. Other interests include technology, nutrition and the Chinese language.

Education

Cristoforetti completed her secondary education at the Liceo Scientifico in Trento, Italy, in 1996 after having spent one year as an exchange student in the United States.

In 2001, she graduated from the Technische Universität Munich, Germany, with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering with specializations in aerospace propulsion and lightweight structures. As part of her studies, she spent four months at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure de l’Aéronautique et de l’Espace in Toulouse, France, working on an experimental project in aerodynamics. She wrote her master’s thesis in solid rocket propellants during a ten-month research stay at the Mendeleev University of Chemical Technologies in Moscow, Russia.

As part of her training at the Italian Air Force Academy she also completed a bachelor degree in aeronautical sciences at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy, in 2005.

Experience

From 2001, Cristoforetti attended the Italian Air Force Academy in Pozzuoli, Italy, graduating in 2005. During this time she served as class leader and was awarded the Honour Sword for best academic achievement. From 2005 to 2006, she was based at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas, the United States. Upon completion of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training, she became a fighter pilot and was assigned to the 132nd Squadron, 51st Bomber Wing, based in Istrana, Italy.

In 2007, Cristoforetti completed `Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals´ training. From 2007 to 2008, she flew the MB-339 and served in the Plan and Operations Section for the 51st Bomber Wing in Istrana, Italy.

In 2008, she joined the 101st Squadron, 32nd Bomber Wing, based at Foggia, Italy, where she attended operational conversion training for the AM-X ground attack fighter.

Cristoforetti is a Captain in the Italian Air Force. She has logged more than 500 hours flying time on six types of military aircraft, including SF-260, T-37, T-38, MB-339A, MB-339CD, AM-X.

Cristoforetti was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009. She joined ESA in September 2009 and successfully completed the Astronaut Basic Training in November 2010.

She is currently assigned to a training program covering the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, the systems of the International Space Station, robotics and extravehicular activities.

When not in training in the US, Russia, Canada or Japan, Cristoforetti is based at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. She enjoys interacting with space enthusiasts on Twitter as @AstroSamantha.