Greece readies its first astronaut mission to the International Space Station

Greek astronaut trainee Adrianos Golemis, the first Greek to qualify for a mission to the International Space Station, met with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and officials at the Maximos Hall. The launch is planned within the next two years, with a potential three‑week stay on the ISS, forming part of Greece’s new national space strategy that extends to 2035.

The programme, dubbed “ELΛAS Space II”, is funded with €350 million from the national recovery fund and will be implemented over four years in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA). It includes the development of high‑resolution Earth‑observation satellites, secure satellite communications, and artificial‑intelligence tools for geospatial data. The initiative also launches a nationwide school competition for building and launching student‑designed satellites, aiming to inspire a new generation of scientists. ESA director‑general Josef Aschbacher praised Greece’s rapid progress, noting the country’s emergence as a regional hub for satellite design and space research. The government highlighted the scientific experiments and technology demonstrations Greek researchers will conduct on the ISS, as well as opportunities for domestic companies to test innovations in space conditions.