Greece sets plan to send astronaut Adrián Golemí to International Space Station

The Greek government, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, announced a plan to send the first Greek astronaut, Adrián Golemí, to the International Space Station within the next two years. The mission, expected to last up to three weeks, is part of the new National Space Strategy 2035 and the HELLAS‑Space II programme, which carries a budget of roughly €350 million funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Fund.

The objectives include carrying out scientific experiments and technology demonstrations proposed by dozens of Greek universities, research institutes and companies, as well as collecting data for applications in disaster monitoring, precision agriculture, maritime security and satellite communications. The programme also launches a nationwide student space initiative, micro‑satellite construction contests and broader STEM outreach.

Key officials involved were Prime Minister Mitsotakis, Minister of Digital Governance and AI Dimitris Papastergiou, General Secretary of Telecommunications Konstantinos Karatzas, and ESA representatives. The HELLAS‑Space II plan foresees new earth‑observation satellites, secure communication systems and AI‑driven geospatial services, aiming to build a domestic space industry and boost Greece’s role in the European space ecosystem.