Luca Parmitano is an Colonel of the Italian Air Force and an ESA astronaut.
As per today, he has logged 366 days in space, more than any ESA astronaut in history.
After completing a bachelor’s degree in political sciences, he graduated from the Italian Air Force Academy, in Pozzuoli, Italy.
Following completion of undergraduate pilot training in 2001, Luca flew the AM-X aircraft from 2001 to 2007. During that time, he obtained all aircraft qualifications, including Combat Ready, Four Ship Leader and Mission Commander/Package Leader.
In 2007, he was selected by the Italian Air Force to become a test pilot. He trained as an Experimental Test Pilot
He has logged more than 2000 hours flying time, is qualified on more than 20 types of military airplanes and helicopters and has flown over 40 types of aircraft.
He joined ESA as an astronaut in 2009.
In total, Luca carried out six spacewalks, totaling, totaling 33 hours and 9 minutes.
During Beyond mission, Luca supported more than 50 European experiments and 200 international experiments in space.
Other highlights includs performing the first ‘live DJ session’ in Earth orbit, addressing world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 25 and talking to Nobel Laureates about exoplanets and the chemistry of batteries.
