Andrea Patassa

Andrea Patassa was born in 1991 in Italy.  

Education

Andrea studied Aeronautical Science at the University of Naples Federico II, Italy and received his bachelor’s degree in 2013, followed by a master’s degree in 2018. During his studies, he spent four months at the French Air Force Academy in Salon-de-Provence, France, as part of an international exchange in 2014.  

Andrea participated in the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program in Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, USA, and received his military pilot’s license from the Italian Air Force in 2017.

In 2022, he became an experimental test pilot at the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in California, USA. 

He also took part in several survival and rescue courses with the Italian Air Force since 2010, which include underwater escape training and survival and rescue in extreme environments. 

He is fluent in Italian and English. 

Experience

After receiving his military pilot’s license, Andrea was working as a fighter pilot for the Italian Air Force, where he was promoted to the rank of Air Force Captain. 

In 2021, he was selected by the Italian Air Force to become an experimental test pilot and enrolled at the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. He logged more than 1000 flying hours in 30 different aircrafts. 

Andrea’s favourite sports are tennis, soccer and pole vaulting. His other interests include riding motorbikes, hiking, travelling and reading. 

ESA experience

In November 2022, Andrea was selected as a member of the ESA astronaut reserve.