Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti has just arrived on board the ISS: what will her mission be?

Samantha Cristoforetti and her three companions have arrived aboard the Space Station. The Italian from ESA is beginning her second long-term mission aboard the ISS during which she will be responsible for the Western segment of the Station, until her return to Earth scheduled for six months. It will carry out one or two spacewalks to bring the European ERA arm into service and will carry out 35 experiments as part of its Minerva mission.

After the Axiom-1 private missionwhich ran from April 8-25, SpaceX launched a new crew of four bound for the international space station (ISS). For this flight, no space tourists but four astronauts professionals who form the Crew-4 crew. There are three astronauts from the Nasa and Italian Samantha Cristoforetti from the European Space Agency. This mission is therefore the second launch of a Crew Dragon in just 19 days and the 16^and mission of a launcher Falcon 9 since January 6. Impressive launch rates.

The four astronauts Crew-4 arrived on board the Space station international at night. They were welcomed by Crew-3 which includes Matthias Maurer, ESA astronaut of German nationality, who flew to the station on November 11, 2021 as part of the Cosmic Kiss mission. A handover is planned between the two crews. It should last less than a week, until they leave. For now, the return date of Crew-3 is still uncertain. NASA plans a return in early May.

35 European experiments to be carried out

Although Samantha is a member of Crew-4, which has some 200 experiments on its program, the ESA astronaut will simultaneously carry out 35 scientific, demonstration and research experiments as part of the mission. Minerva of the ESA. All the themes dear to European astronauts are concerned (life sciences, health, manned flightsexploration, etc.).

Furthermore, it is not excluded that Samantha Cristoforetti may carry out one or more scuba diving trips outside the station, in particular to continue the installation of the arm robotics European ERA, which began on April 18 during the spacewalk led by Russian cosmonauts Oleg Artemiev and Denis Matveïev. This robotic arm, which was to be launched in 2007, is 15 years behind schedule (thanks Russia). With the Columbus Science Laboratory and the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), ERA is the third major element of European participation in the ISS programme. It is specifically dedicated to the Russian segment.

Small disappointment, Samantha will not be the commander of the whole Station

Initially, it was planned that Samantha take command of the ISS but, for reasons that escape us, she will not hold this position. the conflict in Ukraine and the strong tensions which resulted from it between the partners of the Station would explain this decision which the ESA does not wish to comment on.

That said, Samantha will still occupy a supervisory role. She will be responsible for the American orbital segment (Usos) which she will assume throughout her mission. As part of this role, Samantha will be responsible for all operations performed within the US, Japanese and Canadian modules and facilities of the orbital complex. Some will see it as a consolation prize.