|  | Umberto Guidoni in training | |
When science fiction becomes reality
A teenage fascination with space and science fiction is not something that Italian-born Umberto Guidoni ever imagined could become a reality.
And indeed, it wasn't until his mid-thirties whilst working on the Tethered Satellite project that his name was put forward as payload specialist for a joint ASI/NASA mission.
"I never expected to be chosen but when it happened I decided that being an astronaut was what I really wanted to do," says Guidoni, who at 46 years old is now set to make his second trip into space and earn himself a place in the history books as the first European on the International Space Station.
As a qualified astrophysicist from the University of Rome, Guidoni also has a doctorate in the thermonuclear fusion field.
He has worked across a variety a disciplines for many international organisations including the National Energy Committee, where he developed new techniques to characterise solar panels, the Space Physics Institute (IFSI-CNR) where he was co-investigator in the Research on Electrodynamic Tether Effects (RETE) experiment, and later as RETE Project Scientist.
| | Umberto Guidoni | |
In 1989 he joined the Astronaut Office of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) as one of two Italian scientists selected to be trained as payload specialists on the STS-75 Mission, which carried the Tethered Satellite System (TSS) and the United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-3). This involved assisting the science team for on-orbit operations at the Payload Operations Control Centre (POCC).
Guidoni was finally assigned to the flight in 1995. This mission produced a wealth of new information on the electro-dynamics of tethers and plasma physics.
Guidoni is married with one daughter, Luca. His interests of a more terrestrial nature include swimming, volleyball and classical music.
Guidoni's mission highlights website
(Based on the ESA STS-100 Newspaper by ESA Publications)
Last update: 17 April 2001 | 
