Samantha Cristoforetti

Samantha Cristoforetti is an Italian astronaut and engineer. She was born on April 7, 1977, in Rome, Italy. Cristoforetti earned a degree in physics from the University of Rome 'La Sapienza' and later earned a master's degree in astronautical engineering from the University of Naples. She joined the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2002 and was selected as an astronaut candidate in 2009. Cristoforetti flew to the International Space Station (ISS) on June 23, 2014, and spent 199 days aboard the station. She holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by a woman. Cristoforetti has also been involved in various space-related research projects and has written several books about her experiences in space. She has been recognized for her achievements with numerous awards, including the Italian Space Agency's Gold Medal for Merit in the Field of Science and Technology.