Cristoforetti in command of the International Space Station

Samantha Cristoforetti will be commander of the ISS , the International Space Station that orbits the Earth.

To announce the prestigious assignment was ESA, the European Space Agency.

AstroSamantha , it is explained, will take up the baton of the current station commander, the Russian Oleg Artemyev.

Cristoforetti - 45 years old - will thus become the first European woman to lead the ISS.

"I am honored with my appointment as commander" , the first words of the Italian astronaut. He adds: "I'm looking forward to drawing on the experience I have gained in space and on Earth to lead a very capable team into orbit."

(Unioneonline / lf)