Air Force Captain Andrea Patassa is one of two Italians selected as a reserve astronaut for the European Space Agency (ESA)
Captain Patassa, after a degree in Aeronautical Science at the Federico II University of Naples and a long period of Flight training at the French aviation academy in Salon-de-Provence and the US air base in Sheppard, Texas, he earned his qualification in the Armed Forces Military pilot's licence in 2017.
After several years of service as a fighter pilot in the Italian Air Force, in 2022 he qualified as a test pilot at the Edwards flight test school in California, with over 1,000 flight hours across 30 different aircraft under his belt.
22 November 2022 is selected as backup astronaut of the’European Space Agency (ESA).
The presentation of the new ESA astronaut class took place on 23 November at Grand Palais Éphémère of Paris. This is the first recruitment in the last 13 years and includes, alongside Captain Patassa, the Italian woman too Anthea Comellini.
To Captain Patassa the congratulations of the great family of the’Italian Air Force, of Defence and Minister Guido Crosetto.
