Samantha Cristoforetti will return to space and ESA is looking for young astronauts

Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti will return to the International Space Station to study human behavior during space travel.

Samantha Cristoforetti will return to the International Space Station (ISS) in the spring of 2022, succeeding astronaut ESA Matthias Maurer.A return which comes about six years after the last mission of “AstroSamantha”, which ended on June 11, 2015.“Returning to the ISS (the International Space Station), my home away from home, it has always remained my greatest desire", he said the Italian astronaut during the press conference organized by Hex.“I am honored to have been assigned to a second space mission and I can't wait to return to representing Italy and Europe in orbit, contributing to the scientific research activities and technological development in microgravity".It will be the first trip that will take a European astronaut to the ISS using a private vehicle, chosen from among Crew Dragon by SpaceX or Boeing's Starliner.

The last two years of Samantha Cristoforetti, between training and development of new modules

In the last period the Italian astronaut has continued to do research by collaborating with students and young researchers working on technologies for lunar exploration.“For two years I gave my contribution to the iHAB program, offering the point of view of an astronaut in the development phase of this housing module provided by ESA for theGateway lunar orbit outpost”, Cristoforetti said.“I also had the opportunity to work for 10 days underwater, as commander of theNeemo23 crew from the NASA, in conditions similar to those of a space mission".

As explained by the president ofItalian space agency (Asi), Giorgio Saccoccia, Samantha will continue the scientific experiments already started by Luca Parmitano during the last trip, such as “the behavior of the body and food intake to monitor and improve astronaut performance during the journey."This is in anticipation of longer space journeys, first to the Moon and one day to Mars.

Samantha Cristoforetti will also work with the European laboratory Columbus, already set up with a 3D metal printer.“And then the Bartolomeo experiment will be installed, outside the Columbus module, to analyze the density of plasma in the upper atmosphere, and understand how it affects satellite telecommunications and navigation,” explained the Italian astronaut.“But we will also have other experiments on human physiology and life support, using an algae, la spirulina, a truly interesting microorganism, which is able to grow using carbon dioxide to increase biomass, releasing oxygen that could be used by astronauts in orbit."

ESA is looking for new astronauts

For the first time in over a decade, ESA has opened (from March 31st) a selection For new astronauts and new astronauts Europeans, who join the team of space "explorers".It will be about four or six European citizens, with a scientific background (natural sciences, engineering, medicine, etc.) who may be selected to fly to the International Space Station, or in any case become part of the reserve team of the astronautical corps.

For the first time ESA has also opened the possibility of participating in the selections as part of the feasibility project "Parastronaut“, to select an astronaut with certain physical disabilities, such as the presence of prostheses in the lower limbs or a short stature (i.e. less than 130 cm).

“Becoming an astronaut it was a dream come trueor.It brings together many of my passions:science and technology, complex machinery, demanding work environments, international teams, physical preparation, public resonance”, commented Samantha Cristoforetti.“And, of course, every now and then you get to take a ride in a rocket for work.”