Greece prepares first astronaut mission to International Space Station

Greece is moving ahead with its inaugural astronaut flight to the International Space Station. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis chaired a meeting in Athens to outline preparations for a mission expected within the next two years and lasting up to three weeks. The flight will be carried out by Adrianos Golemis, one of the 25 reserve astronauts selected by the European Space Agency in 2022 and a medical doctor who has long worked with space‑flight physiology.

The mission forms a core element of Greece’s National Space Strategy through 2035. Greek research institutions will propose experiments and technology demonstrations for the astronaut to conduct aboard the ISS, while Greek firms will have the chance to showcase innovations suited to space conditions. An accompanying education programme aims to engage students through STEM contests, satellite‑building competitions and opportunities to ask questions directly to the astronaut in orbit.