Samantha Cristoforetti

Captain, Air Force
ESA Astronaut, Italy

DATE AND PLACE OF BIRTH:

April 26, 1977, Milano, Italy.

EDUCATION:

In 1996 graduated from the Liceo Scientifico in Trento, Italy.

In 2001 graduated from the Techcnische Universitet, Munich and received a Master’s degree (machine-building).

She spent four months at the Ecole Nationale Superieure de l’Aeronautique et de l’Espace, Toulouse, and ten months at the Mendeleev University of Chemical Technologies in Moscow, Russia.

In 2001 Samantha Cristoforetti entered and in 2005 graduated (with the maximum number of high grades) from Academia Aeronautica in Pozzuoli specializing in Aeronautical Sciences. When she studies at the Academy in 2004 she received Sciabola d’Onore, a decoration which is presented to the student who got excellent marks for the first three years of studies.

In 2005 she received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautics from the University of Naples Federico II, Italy.
Received M.S. from the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (postal tuition) in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Samantha Cristoforetti knows Italian, German, English, French and Russian.

HOBBY:

Mountain-cycling, speleology, scuba diving, yoga, reading.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

She served as a fighter pilot of the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana). In 2005 – 2006 Samantha Cristoforetti passed the Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training at Sheppard AFB, Texas. Upon completion of her training she was assigned to the 132nd squadron, 51st Bomber Wing (51 Stormo) in Istrana, Italy.

In 2007 she served in the 212nd squadron, 61st training Wing (61 Stormo) in Galatina, Italy, where Cristoforetti passed training under program: Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals. In 2007 – 2008 she served as a pilot and Deputy Chief of Wing’s Plan and Operations Section in the 51st Bomber Wing (51 Stormo) in Istrana, Italy.

In 2008 Samantha Cristoforetti was transferred to the 101st squadron, 32nd Bomber Wing (32 Stormo) disposed at Amendola AFB in the eastern part of Foggia province.

On May 20, 2009 she was selected for ESA astronaut team (the fourth selection). Upon completion of a course of general space training on November 22, 2010 Samantha Cristoforetti got the ESA astronaut certificate.

From September 13 to November 14, 2010 she passed a special course at Yu.A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. The program of this special course included mastering the Russian language for acquaintanance, training concerning the ISS Russian Segment, Soyuz TMA vehicle and Sokol spacesuit as well as flights on a special aircraft Tu-134 for visual instrument observations.

In June 2012 it was reported that she was assigned to the crew of ISS-42/43. On July 2, 2012 her assignment was confirmed in ESA press release (PR 20 2012). In December 2012 she together with Anton Shkaplerov and Terry Virts became members of the prime crew of Soyuz TMA-15М (ISS-42/43) and the backup crew of Soyuz TMA-13М (ISS-40/41) as the ISS flight engineer-1.

On May 6, 2014 Samantha Cristoforetti began to pass the integrated training as commander of the ISS-40/41 backup crew together with the vehicle commander Anton Shkaplerov and flight engineer Terry Virts. On May 6, 2014 the examination training was provided on the Soyuz TMA simulator with an excellent mark. On May 7 the crew passed the test training on the ISS Russian Segment with such a mark as 4.5.

On May 8, 2014 at the meeting of the State Interdepartmental Commission she was approved within the backup crew. On May 27, 2014 at Baikonur at the meeting of the State Commission for flight tests of manned space complexes Samantha Cristoforetti was approved as flight engineer-2 of the Soyuz TMA-13M MTV backup crew.

On May 28, 2014 during the Soyuz TMA-13M MTV launch she was a backup of flight engineer-2.квалангом, йогой, чтением.