The Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, of the European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing to become the first European to command the International Space Station (ISS).
The handover ceremony by the current commander, the Russian Oleg Artemyev, is scheduled at 3:35 pm Italian time.
AstroSam will remain in command until shortly after the arrival of the new crew, with the Crew 5 mission. The launch is currently scheduled for October 3, but weighs the unknown bad weather due to the arrival of Hurricane Ian in Florida.
"Even if for a short time - the president of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Giorgio Saccoccia told ANSA - it is important that the astronaut has this recognition, both in the role he is called to play, and in his ability management of the entire crew ".
During her current mission, AstroSamantha already had a very important role - that of commander of the western segment of the ISS, called United States Orbital Segment (Usos) - and from tomorrow she will be the first European woman in command of the entire station.
The handover ceremony is symbolized by a brass bell from the current commander.
