Cristoforetti: “Intense and challenging experience, grateful for opportunity”

“It was an intense and challenging experience from many points of view”. Thus the Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti at her first press conference after returning from her second mission on the international space station, Minerva, underlining her gratitude for this second opportunity. On board the space station there is a “very beautiful atmosphere”, of “harmony, of strong ties in a group that works together for the same objectives” by “putting” the things that unite together and aside what is conflictual “, he says. , adding that “the space station I miss and will miss, I spent a year there in almost two missions”. There “you can live in a way that is not possible on Earth: weightlessness,” she says. “Physically the Russian suit is very stiff, and it was tiring to work in. Plus it’s one size, and I’m at the low limit of height”, so “it was a great physical challenge.” But “mentally I was very prepared and at ease,” she adds. “I stayed focused on work in the almost 7 hours out” but then there was “20 minutes” to “enjoy being out there”.