The design for the historic first mission of a Greek astronaut to the International Space Station, following the official start of the European Space Agency’s astronaut training program by Adrianos Golemis, was discussed during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis yesterday, Thursday, at the Maximos Mansion.

The launch is expected to take place within the next two years, and the mission will last up to three weeks, forming part of the new National Space Strategy, which has a horizon of 2035.

During the meeting, participants discussed the significant benefits that the decision to include Greece’s first representative on the ISS crew will bring to the domestic scientific community. The Greek astronaut will conduct experiments and technology demonstrations proposed by dozens of Greek research teams, institutions, and universities; Greek companies will have the opportunity to present innovative solutions in space conditions; valuable data will be collected for use in applications and further research, while at the same time offering the potential to develop valuable partnerships with international partners.

In addition to strengthening Greek research and promoting Greek technologies, programs will be implemented to encourage young people to engage with the sciences and their practical applications. Among other things, the meeting discussed organizing a student competition to build a satellite, holding STEM competitions, and having students submit questions to astronauts serving on the ISS.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Dimitris Papastergiou, the Secretary General of Telecommunications and Post, Konstantinos Karantzalos, and trainee astronaut and space mission physician Adrianos Golemis.