Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-17-2018 11:08 AM
   
European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Maurizio Cheli, who flew as a mission specialist on space shuttle Columbia's STS-75 mission in 1996, has become the second person to orbit Earth and summit Mount Everest. Maurizio Cheli, 59, who has logged over 377 hours in space, successfully climbed Mt Everest this morning, according to Thaneswar Guragai, an official at the Seven Summit Treks. "Cheli and Francois Cazzanelli along with their climbing Sherpas – Ramesh Gurung and Nima Rima Sherpa – scaled the mountain," Guragai told THT over phone from the Mt Everest base camp."In 1996, I was flying over the planet on the Space Shuttle Columbia when I took a picture of the Mt Everest. Since then, I always desired to reach that peak. I always desired to stare at that part of the world from a different perspective compared to that time. Now I can finally do it," Cheli, who now serves as Director of Operational Development at Alenia Aeronautica, shared before embarking on a trek to Mt Everest region. "Mt Everest has always had a unique appeal for climbers, and not only: everybody, at least once in a lifetime, has dreamt even just for a moment to be able to touch its peak."  Above: Maurizio Cheli during his ascent to Camp 4 on Mount Everest, via his Facebook page. Scott Parazynski, who was the first astronaut to achieve the feat in 2009, shared his congratulations on Twitter: Thrilled for my astronaut classmate and good friend Maurizio Cheli, who just summitted Everest! |
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