posted 12-09-2013 04:00 PM            

Samantha's mission has a name: Futura

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti's mission to the International Space Station will be called Futura. The name for the joint mission with Italy's ASI space agency, set for launch next November, was chosen after a call for ideas in her home country.

Last month Samantha asked people to think of a mission name and suggested a number of inspirational words: research, discovery, science, technology, exploration, wonder, adventure, travel, excellence, teamwork, humanity, enthusiasm, dreams and nutrition.

Samantha says: "A big thank you to all those who sent their ideas for the name of the mission that will take me to the International Space Station in less than a year now. It was not easy to choose from more than a thousand proposals.

"I shared some words that are dear to me, and I think 'Futura' brings them all together with plenty of positive momentum towards the future."

Samantha will spend almost six months on the Station as part of Expedition 42/43. She will be the seventh Italian astronaut to go to space.

"Now that the mission has a name, I need a logo to represent it and to wear on my suit during my trip in space. I propose the same words to inspire the design and I ask for your help again."

The logo should represent the Italian involvement in the mission and follow the guidelines given by Samantha and in the competition rules. Details are available on the ASI website in Italian only.

The competition is open to all with no age limit. Send your submission by email with the subject line "Proposal logo Samantha Cristoforetti mission". The deadline is set for noon CET on 30 December.

The winner will be invited to meet Samantha.

posted 01-22-2014 09:44 AM            

Futura mission patch

ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti (IT) is assigned to fly on the Soyuz TMA-15M spacecraft to the International Space Station, scheduled for November 2014 and as part of Expedition 42/43.

Expedition 42 begins with the scheduled undocking of Soyuz TMA-13M in November 2014. Three new Soyuz TMA-15M crew members, Samantha, cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov and NASA astronaut Terry Virts, will be launched shortly after. They join cosmonauts Alexandr Samokutyayev and Yelena Serova, and NASA astronaut Barry Wilmore, who will be already on the Station.

Samantha's European mission to the ISS will be called Futura. The name for the joint mission with Italy's space agency, ASI, set for launch next November, was chosen after a call for ideas in her home country. Samantha asked people to think of a mission name and suggested a number of inspirational words: research, discovery, science, technology, exploration, wonder, adventure, travel, excellence, teamwork, humanity, enthusiasm, dreams and nutrition.

Samantha said: "A big thank you to all those who sent their ideas for the name of the mission that will take me to the International Space Station in less than a year now. It was not easy to choose from more than a thousand proposals. I shared some words that are dear to me, and I think 'Futura' brings them all together with plenty of positive momentum towards the future."

The logo for the mission patch was chosen from competition entries asking for a design that also captured the elements of her mission. From the many entries, a design made by 31-year old Valerio Papeti from Turin, Italy, was chosen. The logo shows a stylized orbit of the International Space Station passing Earth — symbolizing the connection between our planet and the orbital outpost.

Valerio added the element of a sunrise from space, describing it as the most beautiful image he has seen from space. The sunrise also symbolizes the future of new discoveries and new horizons for Italy and humankind. The three colors of the national flag reflect Italy's involvement in the mission.

Valerio has a degree in Fine Arts at the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts in Turin. He is interested in astronomy, science and art, and combines them all in his work, although he considers himself a better artist than scientist.

posted 11-11-2014 02:46 PM            

Aboard a Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center aircraft, Expedition 42/43 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (ESA, center), affixes a decal of the ESA logo of her mission to the cabin wall next to the Soyuz crew decal Nov. 11 in a traditional activity en route to her launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.