ESA title
Samantha Cristoforetti

(English) Watch live: Crew-4 docking to the International Space Station

(English) Follow the live coverage as the SpaceX Crew Dragon docks to the International Space Station, marking the beginning of ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti’s Minerva mission.

[/caption]Samantha selected the name Minerva for her second mission as a homage to the men and women all over the world who make human spaceflight possible.

« Minerva was also a warrior goddess, so she embodies the fortitude, the toughness and the discipline that is required of us, as well as the wisdom that we aspire to demonstrate, as we consolidate and expand human presence in space, » she explains.

Throughout Minerva, Samantha will serve as a member of Expedition 67 and hold responsibility for activities within the US Orbital Segment.

Samantha trains for spaceflight. Credits: NASA–James Blair

This segment comprises the US, European, Japanese and Canadian modules and components of the Space Station.

Upon arrival, she will be greeted by a number of familiar faces including fellow ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer. Matthias was launched with Crew-3 in November 2021 and will soon return to Earth following around six months in orbit for his first mission Cosmic Kiss.

Matthias Maurer and his window to the world. Credits: NASA–K. Barron

Crew-4 is expected to dock to the International Space Station in the early hours of Thursday, at approximately 03:15 CEST (01:15 GMT) 28 April. Hatch will open around two hours after docking.

All events will be streamed live on ESA Web TV, with regular updates also provided on Twitter @esaspaceflight and on this blog.

For more about Samantha and Minerva, visit the Minerva mission page. Samantha will also provide updates throughout her mission on Twitter, YouTube and her newly launched TikTok channel.

Play

[/caption]Samantha selected the name Minerva for her second mission as a homage to the men and women all over the world who make human spaceflight possible.

« Minerva was also a warrior goddess, so she embodies the fortitude, the toughness and the discipline that is required of us, as well as the wisdom that we aspire to demonstrate, as we consolidate and expand human presence in space, » she explains.

Throughout Minerva, Samantha will serve as a member of Expedition 67 and hold responsibility for activities within the US Orbital Segment.

Samantha trains for spaceflight. Credits: NASA–James Blair

This segment comprises the US, European, Japanese and Canadian modules and components of the Space Station.

Upon arrival, she will be greeted by a number of familiar faces including fellow ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer. Matthias was launched with Crew-3 in November 2021 and will soon return to Earth following around six months in orbit for his first mission Cosmic Kiss.

Matthias Maurer and his window to the world. Credits: NASA–K. Barron

Crew-4 is expected to dock to the International Space Station in the early hours of Thursday, at approximately 03:15 CEST (01:15 GMT) 28 April. Hatch will open around two hours after docking.

All events will be streamed live on ESA Web TV, with regular updates also provided on Twitter @esaspaceflight and on this blog.

For more about Samantha and Minerva, visit the Minerva mission page. Samantha will also provide updates throughout her mission on Twitter, YouTube and her newly launched TikTok channel.

Play

[/caption]Samantha selected the name Minerva for her second mission as a homage to the men and women all over the world who make human spaceflight possible.

« Minerva was also a warrior goddess, so she embodies the fortitude, the toughness and the discipline that is required of us, as well as the wisdom that we aspire to demonstrate, as we consolidate and expand human presence in space, » she explains.

Throughout Minerva, Samantha will serve as a member of Expedition 67 and hold responsibility for activities within the US Orbital Segment.

Samantha trains for spaceflight. Credits: NASA–James Blair

This segment comprises the US, European, Japanese and Canadian modules and components of the Space Station.

Upon arrival, she will be greeted by a number of familiar faces including fellow ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer. Matthias was launched with Crew-3 in November 2021 and will soon return to Earth following around six months in orbit for his first mission Cosmic Kiss.

Matthias Maurer and his window to the world. Credits: NASA–K. Barron

Crew-4 is expected to dock to the International Space Station in the early hours of Thursday, at approximately 03:15 CEST (01:15 GMT) 28 April. Hatch will open around two hours after docking.

All events will be streamed live on ESA Web TV, with regular updates also provided on Twitter @esaspaceflight and on this blog.

For more about Samantha and Minerva, visit the Minerva mission page. Samantha will also provide updates throughout her mission on Twitter, YouTube and her newly launched TikTok channel.

Play

[/caption]Samantha selected the name Minerva for her second mission as a homage to the men and women all over the world who make human spaceflight possible.

« Minerva was also a warrior goddess, so she embodies the fortitude, the toughness and the discipline that is required of us, as well as the wisdom that we aspire to demonstrate, as we consolidate and expand human presence in space, » she explains.

Throughout Minerva, Samantha will serve as a member of Expedition 67 and hold responsibility for activities within the US Orbital Segment.

Samantha trains for spaceflight. Credits: NASA–James Blair

This segment comprises the US, European, Japanese and Canadian modules and components of the Space Station.

Upon arrival, she will be greeted by a number of familiar faces including fellow ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer. Matthias was launched with Crew-3 in November 2021 and will soon return to Earth following around six months in orbit for his first mission Cosmic Kiss.

Matthias Maurer and his window to the world. Credits: NASA–K. Barron

Crew-4 is expected to dock to the International Space Station in the early hours of Thursday, at approximately 03:15 CEST (01:15 GMT) 28 April. Hatch will open around two hours after docking.

All events will be streamed live on ESA Web TV, with regular updates also provided on Twitter @esaspaceflight and on this blog.

For more about Samantha and Minerva, visit the Minerva mission page. Samantha will also provide updates throughout her mission on Twitter, YouTube and her newly launched TikTok channel.

Play