Adrianos Golemis selected as first Greek astronaut

Dr. Adrianos Golemis is set to become the first Greek citizen to travel to space as a mission specialist on the PAM-6 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission is scheduled for the second half of 2027.

Announced by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the International Space Summit in Paris, the mission is a joint initiative by France and Germany to bolster Europe's presence in the space industry. Golemis, a flight surgeon for the European Space Agency (ESA) and a graduate of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, will fly aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched by a Falcon 9 rocket.

The mission is part of NASA’s Private Astronaut Mission initiative, commissioned from the company Vast. Golemis will serve alongside mission commander Thomas Pesquet. The mission aims to facilitate scientific experiments from Greek universities and companies, marking a significant step for Greece's aerospace and research sectors.