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National Organization of Italian American Women

Five Things You May Not Know About Samantha Cristoforetti

Last week, Samantha Cristoforetti returned back to Earth after a six-month orbit in the International Space Station (ISS)!

Sam is the first Italian woman in space and currently holds the record for the longest uninterrupted spaceflight of a European astronaut. In addition to completing her scientific duties onboard, Sam shared the joy of spaceflight with those on Earth by posting pictures and videos on social media. She is a wonderful role model and a huge inspiration for all Italian and Italian American women

Here are a few fun facts about Sam!

  1. Sam holds the record for the longest single space flight for a woman, lasting 199 days and 16 hours.
  2. She is fluent in Italian, English, German, French, and Russian, which makes her a polyglot.
  3. Not only is Sam the first Italian woman in space, she is also the first to make fresh espresso (or ISSpresso) while in orbit! Here she is drinking her Lavazza espresso from an anti-gravity cup.

    In this photo posted on Twitter, Sunday, May 3, 2015, and provided by NASA, Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti sips espresso from a cup designed for use in zero-gravity, on the International Space Station. Cristoforetti, the first Italian woman in space, fired up the first espresso machine in space, which uses small capsules, or pods, of espresso coffee. (NASA via AP)
    In this photo posted on Twitter, Sunday, May 3, 2015, and provided by NASA, Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti sips espresso from a cup designed for use in zero-gravity, on the International Space Station. Cristoforetti, the first Italian woman in space, fired up the first espresso machine in space, which uses small capsules, or pods, of espresso coffee. (NASA via AP)
  4. Prior to her 200 days on the International Space Station, Sam was a military pilot, Air Force captain, and engineer.  She was also one of the first women to be a lieutenant and fighter pilot in the Italian Air Force.
  5. Sam also regularly updated her social media sites over the past 200 days, and even made videos about life in ISS. She posted on her Twitter account, updated her blog, and even shared her flying themed Spotify playlist!

Sam is a great advocate of advancing women in science and technology careers… and so are we! Watch the video below for her message encouraging girls to follow their passions in the sciences.

One small step for man, one giant leap for (Italian) womankind!