Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti has become the first woman in Europe to assume the position of commander of the International Space Station (ISS). By handing over a symbolic key, Cristoforetti today succeeded Russian astronaut Oleg Artemyev. The Italian follows in the footsteps of four previous European commanders.
As commander, Cristoforetti must ensure, among other things, that the crew stays together and that cooperation with colleagues on Earth works well. According to ESA, Cristoforetti will also prepare delivery for the next team of astronauts on the ISS.
The Italian was on the ISS for the second time since late April as part of the Minerva mission. There, she oversees European and international experiments on issues of medical and material sciences, among other things. At the handover ceremony, broadcast directly from the space station, Cristoforetti thanked her predecessor and the team she has worked with for months.