Cristoforetti was recruited by the ESA in 2008 after a rigorous selection process, and trained for years before her first launch in 2014. During her missions she has contributed to research on hearing, muscle and bone health, and material science, alongside routine station maintenance and 2.5 hours of daily exercise to counter bone and muscle loss in microgravity.
She joined Cologne am Rhein after being invited by fellow member Bernd Böttiger, who trains astronauts in emergency resuscitation. She brought the club's banner aboard the space station and has stayed connected to Earth through a popular TikTok following, sharing everyday details of space life alongside her scientific work.
