The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic honour was presented by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force to Captain Samantha Cristoforetti. The Captain then met a delegation of military personnel, illustrating the operational training of an astronaut in a presentation. Of particular interest was the description of a typical day on the ISS: briefing with control centres at“Earth”scientific research, sports activities, and in my limited free time, photography.
The Order of Merit, established in 1951, is the foremost of the national Orders and is intended for “to reward distinguished services rendered to the Nation in the fields of letters, arts, and economics, in the performance of public office, and in activities undertaken for social, philanthropic, and humanitarian purposes, as well as for long and distinguished service in civil and military careers“.
The honour was also conferred upon Major Luca Parmitano, an Italian Air Force pilot and now also a “Ambassador”of the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, who spent 166 days in space aboard the ISS during the mission“To fly”of the ASI (Italian Space Agency), completing over 20 experiments and taking part in two extravehicular activities and the docking of four shuttles.
