Roberto Vittori
Encyclopedia
Roberto Vittori is an Italian
air force officer and an ESA
astronaut
. After graduating from the Italian Air Force Academy in 1989, Vittori flew in the Italian Air Force
. He then trained as a test pilot in the United States.
In 1998, Vittori was selected by the ESA to join the European Astronaut Corps
. Since then, he has participated in three spaceflights: the Soyuz TM-34
/33
and Soyuz TMA-6
/5
taxi flights to the ISS, as well as STS-134
, the penultimate mission of the American Space Shuttle Program
. He was the final non-American to fly aboard the shuttle.
. He flew the Tornado
in the Italian Air Force before graduating in 1995 from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School
at Patuxent River, Maryland. He served at the Italian Test Center as a project pilot for the development of the new European aircraft, the EF2000.
Vittori flew Tornado GR1
aircraft with the 155th Squadron, 50th Wing, Piacenza
(Italy
) from 1991 to 1994. During that time, he qualified for day/night air-to-air refuelling as well as a formation leader.
He has logged over 1700 hours in over 40 different aircraft including F-104, F-18, AMX, M-2000, G-222 and P-180.
In August 1998, after selection by ESA to join the European Astronaut Corps, he reported to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas
. Following a period of training and evaluation, Vittori served in various technical assignments within the NASA
Astronaut Office.
taxi-flight to the International Space Station
(ISS), under an agreement between the Russian Rosaviakosmos, the Italian Space Agency
, ASI and ESA. During his stay aboard ISS he worked alongside the resident crew overseeing four European scientific experiments. The mission successfully delivered a new "lifeboat" to the Station for use by resident crews in the event of an on-board emergency. Vittori returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TM-33
.
(ISS), Soyuz TMA-6
, returning to Earth on April 24 in the Soyuz TMA-5
capsule. He became the first European astronaut to visit the ISS twice and conducted experiments in upper limb fatigue in astronauts and germination of herbaceous plant seeds for possible space nutrition.
. He is the last non-US astronaut to fly on the Shuttle.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
air force officer and an ESA
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
. After graduating from the Italian Air Force Academy in 1989, Vittori flew in the Italian Air Force
Italian Air Force
The Italian Air Force has gone under different names in different periods:*Regia Aeronautica , from 1923 to June 1946*Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, the air force of Italian Social Republic during World War II...
. He then trained as a test pilot in the United States.
In 1998, Vittori was selected by the ESA to join the European Astronaut Corps
European Astronaut Corps
The European Astronaut Corps is a unit of the European Space Agency that selects, trains, and provides astronauts as crew members on U.S. and Russian space missions. As of May 2010, 21 ESA astronauts have flown in space, including one female. There are currently 14 active members of the Corps. The...
. Since then, he has participated in three spaceflights: the Soyuz TM-34
Soyuz TM-34
Soyuz TM-34 was the fourth Soyuz mission to the International Space Station . Soyuz TM-34 was launched by a Soyuz-U launch vehicle.-Crew:-Docking with ISS:*Docked to ISS: April 27, 2002, 07:55 UTC...
/33
Soyuz TM-33
Soyuz TM-33 was a manned Russian space launch on Oct 21, 2001, on the Soyuz-U launch vehicle. Its mission was to carry a new crew and supplies to the International Space Station.-Crew:-Docking with ISS:...
and Soyuz TMA-6
Soyuz TMA-6
Soyuz TMA-6 was a Soyuz mission to the International Space Station launched by a Soyuz-FG launch vehicle.-Crew:-Docking with ISS:*Docked to ISS: April 17, 2005, 02:20 UTC...
/5
Soyuz TMA-5
Soyuz TMA-5 was a Soyuz mission to the International Space Station launched by a Soyuz-FG launch vehicle.-Crew:TMA 5 ISS 10 Crew patches were designed by Seán O'Mara for USSR Airspace.-Docking with ISS:...
taxi flights to the ISS, as well as STS-134
STS-134
STS-134 was the penultimate mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program. The mission marked the 25th and final flight of . This flight delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and an ExPRESS Logistics Carrier to the International Space Station. Mark Kelly served as the mission commander...
, the penultimate mission of the American Space Shuttle Program
Space Shuttle program
NASA's Space Shuttle program, officially called Space Transportation System , was the United States government's manned launch vehicle program from 1981 to 2011...
. He was the final non-American to fly aboard the shuttle.
Career
He graduated from the Italian Air Force Academy in 1989 and trained in the U.S.United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He flew the Tornado
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
in the Italian Air Force before graduating in 1995 from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School
United States Naval Test Pilot School
The United States Naval Test Pilot School , located at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Patuxent River, Maryland, provides instruction to experienced United States Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, and foreign military experimental test pilots, flight test engineers, and flight test...
at Patuxent River, Maryland. He served at the Italian Test Center as a project pilot for the development of the new European aircraft, the EF2000.
Vittori flew Tornado GR1
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
aircraft with the 155th Squadron, 50th Wing, Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
(Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
) from 1991 to 1994. During that time, he qualified for day/night air-to-air refuelling as well as a formation leader.
He has logged over 1700 hours in over 40 different aircraft including F-104, F-18, AMX, M-2000, G-222 and P-180.
In August 1998, after selection by ESA to join the European Astronaut Corps, he reported to the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. Following a period of training and evaluation, Vittori served in various technical assignments within the NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
Astronaut Office.
Soyuz TM-34
From April 25 to May 5, 2002, Vittori participated in the Soyuz TM-34Soyuz TM-34
Soyuz TM-34 was the fourth Soyuz mission to the International Space Station . Soyuz TM-34 was launched by a Soyuz-U launch vehicle.-Crew:-Docking with ISS:*Docked to ISS: April 27, 2002, 07:55 UTC...
taxi-flight to the International Space Station
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
(ISS), under an agreement between the Russian Rosaviakosmos, the Italian Space Agency
Italian Space Agency
The Italian Space Agency is a government agency established in 1988 to fund, regulate and coordinate space exploration activities in Italy...
, ASI and ESA. During his stay aboard ISS he worked alongside the resident crew overseeing four European scientific experiments. The mission successfully delivered a new "lifeboat" to the Station for use by resident crews in the event of an on-board emergency. Vittori returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TM-33
Soyuz TM-33
Soyuz TM-33 was a manned Russian space launch on Oct 21, 2001, on the Soyuz-U launch vehicle. Its mission was to carry a new crew and supplies to the International Space Station.-Crew:-Docking with ISS:...
.
Soyuz TMA-6
On April 15, 2005, Vittori participated in a second taxi-flight to the International Space StationInternational Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
(ISS), Soyuz TMA-6
Soyuz TMA-6
Soyuz TMA-6 was a Soyuz mission to the International Space Station launched by a Soyuz-FG launch vehicle.-Crew:-Docking with ISS:*Docked to ISS: April 17, 2005, 02:20 UTC...
, returning to Earth on April 24 in the Soyuz TMA-5
Soyuz TMA-5
Soyuz TMA-5 was a Soyuz mission to the International Space Station launched by a Soyuz-FG launch vehicle.-Crew:TMA 5 ISS 10 Crew patches were designed by Seán O'Mara for USSR Airspace.-Docking with ISS:...
capsule. He became the first European astronaut to visit the ISS twice and conducted experiments in upper limb fatigue in astronauts and germination of herbaceous plant seeds for possible space nutrition.
STS-134
Vittori was a Mission Specialist for NASA Space Shuttle mission STS-134STS-134
STS-134 was the penultimate mission of NASA's Space Shuttle program. The mission marked the 25th and final flight of . This flight delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and an ExPRESS Logistics Carrier to the International Space Station. Mark Kelly served as the mission commander...
. He is the last non-US astronaut to fly on the Shuttle.