Space: today Samantha Cristoforetti takes over the command of the ISS

An Italian astronaut in command of the human outpost in Space.

Today, at 3:35 pm Italian time, the handover with which

will become the commander of the ISS will take place on board the International Space Station, taking over from the Russian companion of Expedition 67, Oleg Artemyev. 

The 45-year-old ESA astronaut from Milan becomes the first European woman, fifth among ESA astronauts, to lead the space station dedicated to scientific research in Earth's orbit.

The handover ceremony will focus on the symbolic passage of a key by Artemyev and will be broadcast live from the International Space Station on ESA Web TV and NASA TV.

The handover in the Station orbiting 400 kilometers from Earth also marks the end of the Russian Expedition 67 mission led by Artemyev.

"I am honored by my appointment as commander", said Samantha Cristoforetti after the announcement of her appointment in mid-September, "I am looking forward to drawing on the experience I have gained in space and on Earth to lead a very capable in orbit ". 

The duration of the command should be short, even if it has not been quantified.

The decision on the role of commander of the Space Station is made jointly by the five ISS partners: the space agencies of the United States (

), Russia (

), Europe (

), Japan (

) and Canada (

).

mission

, last April, Samantha Cristoforetti has been in command of the western segment of the ISS, called the

(Usos), which includes the American, European, Japanese and Canadian part of the Space Station.