Samantha Cristoforetti facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samantha Cristoforetti
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Cristoforetti in 2013, before her first flight (Expedition 42)
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| Born | 26 April 1977 Milan, Italy
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| Status | Active |
| Nationality |  Italy |
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| Space career | |
| ESA astronaut | |
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Time in space
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370 days, 5 hours, 45 minutes |
| Selection | 2009 ESA Group |
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Total EVAs
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1 |
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Total EVA time
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7 hours, 5 minutes |
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Mission insignia
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Samantha Cristoforetti is an Italian European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut. She is also a former Italian Air Force pilot and an engineer. Samantha was the first Italian woman to go into space.
She holds the record for the longest time a European astronaut has stayed in space without a break. This was for 199 days and 16 hours. She also held the record for the longest single space flight by a woman for a while. This record was later broken by Peggy Whitson and then by Christina Koch. On September 28, 2022, Samantha became the commander of ISS Expedition 68.
In December 2021, Politico Europe listed her as one of the "dreamers" in their list of the 28 most important people in Europe.
Contents
Early Life and Space Dreams
Samantha Cristoforetti was born in Milan, Italy, in 1977. She grew up in a town called Malè in Trentino. As a child, she loved Star Trek: The Original Series. Later, as a teenager, she enjoyed Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. These shows made her very interested in exploring space.
When she was 18, Samantha went to the US as part of an exchange program. While there, she attended Space Camp. This experience helped her decide to follow a path that led her to space.
Education and Pilot Training
Samantha studied in different cities in Italy and Europe. She earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Technical University of Munich. She also studied in France and Russia.
She then joined the Accademia Aeronautica in Pozzuoli, Italy. This is where she studied Aeronautics Sciences. She became one of the first women to be a lieutenant and a fighter pilot in the Italian Air Force. She is also the second person who went to Space Camp to fly in space.
As part of her training, she learned to fly many different military aircraft. She has spent over 500 hours flying these planes.
Becoming an ESA Astronaut
In 2009, the European Space Agency chose Samantha Cristoforetti to be an astronaut. She was selected from about 8,000 people who applied.
First Mission: Expedition 42/43
On July 3, 2012, the European Space Agency announced that Samantha would go on a long mission to the ISS in 2014.
On November 23, 2014, Samantha and two other astronauts launched into space. They traveled on a Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. About six hours later, they successfully docked with the International Space Station.
Samantha and her crewmates returned safely to Earth on June 11, 2015. She stayed in space for 199 days. This made her the record holder for the longest single mission for a woman at that time. Later, Peggy Whitson and Christina Koch broke her record.
Samantha's first mission to the ISS was called Futura. During her time there, she did many science experiments. These experiments helped scientists learn about living in space for a long time. She also helped with the undocking of a supply ship called ATV-5.
She gave three Lego minifigures of herself and her crewmates to the other astronauts. These minifigures were made by ESA. Samantha also helped with a program called "Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut." This program encouraged kids aged 8–12 to get fit while she trained in space.
Samantha was supposed to do some spacewalks. However, some of her special equipment for spacewalks was lost. This happened when a rocket failed to launch in October 2014. Because of this, her spacewalks were canceled.
Samantha showed her love for Star Trek while in space. She was seen wearing a Starfleet uniform and drinking the first espresso made in space. She also gave the Vulcan salute after the death of Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock.
She also talked to schools from space using Amateur radio. This was part of the ARISS initiative, which stands for "Amateur Radio on the International Space Station."
On July 16, 2015, the Italian President gave her the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. This is the highest honor in Italy.
Second Mission: Expedition 67/68
Samantha Cristoforetti was chosen to fly to the International Space Station a second time in 2022. She flew on the SpaceX Crew-4 mission using a Crew Dragon spacecraft. The mission launched on April 27, 2022, and docked with the ISS later that day.
Samantha's second mission to the ISS was named Minerva. She was the first person to make a TikTok video from the International Space Station. Many of her videos from space have been watched millions of times.
On May 13, 2022, she became the first astronaut to use the rHEALTH ONE. This is a very powerful medical analyzer in space. It helps scientists understand and treat health issues that astronauts might face in space.
On July 21, 2022, Samantha did her first spacewalk. It lasted for 7 hours and 5 minutes. She worked with another astronaut, Oleg Artemyev. This spacewalk helped set up the European Robotic Arm. Samantha was the first non-Russian astronaut to use the Orlan spacesuit in many years.
She became the commander of ISS Expedition 68 on September 28, 2022. She returned to Earth on October 14, 2022, completing the SpaceX Crew-4 mission.
NEEMO 23 Mission
Samantha Cristoforetti led the NEEMO mission 23 from June 10 to June 22, 2019. This mission tested new technologies and goals for deep space and Moon explorations. They did these tests on the seafloor, which is similar to space environments.
Personal Life
Samantha Cristoforetti can speak many languages. She knows Italian, English, German, French, Russian, and Chinese.
She is married to Lionel Ferra, who is a French engineer. They have two children, a girl born in 2016 and a boy born in 2021.
Samantha also appeared in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2022. She sent a pre-recorded message from the International Space Station.
Honors and Awards
- Italy
Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic on March 6, 2013 - Italy
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic on July 16, 2015
Images for kids
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Samantha Cristoforetti wearing an Extravehicular Mobility Unit spacesuit.
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Samantha Cristoforetti using the rHEALTH ONE biomedical analyzer during Expedition 67.
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Cristoforetti in a Star Trek uniform in the ISS Cupola with a view of SpaceX CRS-6.
See also
In Spanish: Samantha Cristoforetti para niños
- A Beautiful Planet—A 2016 IMAX movie that shows Earth from space. It features Samantha and other ISS astronauts.
- Italian Space Agency (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, ASI)
- Women in space
