After having gone into space twice, her next dream is to create a new, all-European space shuttle: astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti has been appointed to lead the Leo Cargo Return Initiative, the European Space Agency's program for the development of a commercial service of cargo to and from low orbit.
A first step for the subsequent development of a European space shuttle for the transport of astronauts.
“I became an astronaut, spent more than a year in space during two missions, performed a spacewalk, served as Commander of the International Space Station.
Am I allowed to have another dream?”, wrote the Italian ESA astronaut on her LinkedIn profile.
“I have one.
A big one…-she continued – I dream that Europe has its own spaceship, like the United States, Russia, China and soon India.
I dream of international crews flying into space not only on private US vehicles, but also on European vehicles.”
The European program had already been presented in May 2023, and reconfirmed at the November meeting of ESA ministerial representatives in Seville, with the aim of developing a cargo transport shuttle for the ISS.
“It's a first step,” Samantha Cristoforetti wrote when announcing her appointment.
After the world of European research and industry has demonstrated in recent years the ability to have all the capabilities necessary to operate in low orbits, the "time to put all the elements together" has arrived.
“The immediate benefit is that Europe will be able to develop a win-win relationship with suppliers of future commercial space stations, providing cargo transport in exchange for research opportunities and astronaut flights.
Because we want to be partners, not just customers,” continued the astronaut.
“Beyond the immediate horizon – she added – the cargo vehicle could one day evolve into a crew vehicle or serve cislunar destinations”.
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