The sound of the bell, on board the International Space Station, made official today the change of delivery of the command of the space base orbiting the Italian astronaut Luke Parmitano.
During a brief ceremony, the outgoing commander, the cosmonaut, consumed in a matter of minutes Alexei Ovchinin, has entrusted the next three months of mission in orbit around the Earth to Luke Parmitano.
Luke Parmitano, during his short speech he said: "Today I will spend a few words to recount this day, one of these is certainly 'gratitude', not just for all of you - he said, addressing the other crew members - but also towards all those who worked and allowed me to achieve this goal. I'm really grateful - added - to my country, to the system that allowed me to be here: education, school, the Aeronautical Academy, the Air Force and all the people who participated in my training and to whom all my thanks go today".
To the words of our astronaut, echo the words spoken by Giorgia Saccoccia, president of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), who in a night wished Luca Parmitano good work.
"Best wishes to Luca Parmitano, who allows space Italy to reach a great goal. Becoming commander of the International Space Station is a great privilege, the first for an Italian astronaut. It is the recognition of his great professionalism and his skills demonstrated in the field and in flight".
Saccoccia, talking about the Beyond mission and the activity carried out by Parmitano, who joined the 2009 of the European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut corps, noted: “it is thus confirming itself as a mission with great results thanks to the strong Italian contribution. Luca was already the protagonist of a first presence in orbit with the Volare dell'Asi mission, thanks to which important scientific and communication objectives were achieved. We are proud, therefore, of his assignment to the command of the ISS".
Saccoccia, referring then to the capacities expressed by the "Italy system", In one passage, he added:"marks the confirmation for the Italian system, also thanks to the'Air Force, of all-round skills in forming and preparing the entire patrol of the seven Italian astronauts who have alternated in orbit in these years".