SpaceXs Crew-4 astronauts returned safely to Earth on Friday after a six-month stint living and working aboard the International Space Station.<\/p>\n
One of those astronauts was Samantha Cristoforetti. The Italian space traveler on her second orbital mission shared moments from the adventure with her more than one million Twitter followers and 780,000 TikTok fans, posting photos and videos showing life aboard the orbital outpost, along with plenty of stunning imagery of Earth 250 miles below.<\/p>\n
Heres a selection of Cristoforettis tweets posted during her half-year space mission.<\/p>\n
First, a quick review of the trip up and the first few days in space:<\/p>\n
Back on the International @Space_Station (and TikTok) pic.twitter.com\/oCgJSdWKcu<\/p>\n
\u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) May 6, 2022<\/p>\n
A breathtaking view of the moon:<\/p>\n
The ethereal beauty of the Moon the last sliver of the waning crescent rising above the colors of the imminent sunrise. #Moon #MissionMinerva pic.twitter.com\/bwza4TTlCt<\/p>\n
\u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) May 30, 2022<\/p>\n
Cycling in space:<\/p>\n
Happy #WorldBicycleDay from the International @Space_Station! #MissionMinerva #SpaceTok pic.twitter.com\/gTepsRjtdR<\/p>\n
\u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) June 3, 2022<\/p>\n
Taking time out to replicate a moment from Gravity:<\/p>\n
One of my biggest regrets from my year in space was watching #GravityMovie and having @AstroSamantha float by the screen after her working out and not being quick enough to the camera. Heres the original photo fail. So disappointed then, but all is good now. Thank you, Samantha! https:\/\/t.co\/4Av29VmDNl<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XRJA21jjCA<\/p>\n \u2014 Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) June 19, 2022<\/p>\n Moroccan culture is known for its impressive art and architecture, says Cristoforetti. No wonder that it looks like a real piece of EarthArt from space too!<\/p>\n Moroccan culture is known for its impressive art and architecture. No wonder that it looks like a real piece of #EarthArt from space too! #MissionMinerva #Morocco #Maroc #AtlasMountains pic.twitter.com\/725JWVVHUK<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) July 8, 2022<\/p>\n Heres how astronauts on the station capture all of those amazing Earth shots:<\/p>\n How to take pictures in #space! #worf #SpaceTok #MissionMinerva @esa @esaspaceflight pic.twitter.com\/IiCnUog6Ru<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) July 13, 2022<\/p>\n Getting ready for bed on the ISS:<\/p>\n Getting ready for bed! #BedtimeRoutine #SpaceToc #MissionMinerva @Space_Station @esa @esaspaceflight pic.twitter.com\/MwWSxSjz2H<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) July 15, 2022<\/p>\n Heres an entertaining effort by the Crew-4 astronauts:<\/p>\n Formation flying into our 4 little crew quarters. We made it on the first try well, maybe the second Volo in formazione fino ai nostri 4 piccoli alloggi. Riuscito al primo tentativo beh, forse al secondo #MissionMinerva #Exp67 @Space_Station @esa @esaspaceflight pic.twitter.com\/gP3ElkxqLW<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) July 16, 2022<\/p>\n Do astronauts take Vitamin D while staying on the ISS? Heres the answer:<\/p>\n Do you need to have #VitaminD supplements? #AskMe #MissionMinerva #SpaceTok @esa @esaspaceflight pic.twitter.com\/hrmuI7fPhY<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) July 18, 2022<\/p>\n A time-lapse showing the space stations solar arrays tracking the sun:<\/p>\n A soothing solar array waltz in this accelerated timelapse arrays rotate on two axes to track the sun. And our #robotics teams on the ground have been busy installing the MISSE material science experiment can you see the robotic arm moving? #MissionMinerva pic.twitter.com\/A1Lgk2Tftk<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) August 9, 2022<\/p>\n Here we can see an impact crater on Earth that occurred some 300 million years ago:<\/p>\n We explore space, and sometimes space comes to us. This visit if from over 300 million years ago the Gweni-Fada #meteorite impact crater in Chad 14 km in diameter! #MissionMinerva pic.twitter.com\/x5i0CkXexP<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) August 11, 2022<\/p>\n Aurora are a common sight for astronauts on the space station:<\/p>\n The Sun has been really active lately. Last week we saw the most stunning auroras I have ever experienced in over 300 days in space! #auroraaustralis #MissionMinerva pic.twitter.com\/r9hzZSoMNp<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) August 21, 2022<\/p>\n Prepping a meal in space:<\/p>\n Preparing lunch on the @Space_Station. Balanced meals, like this one, help me to stay healthy and maintain strong muscels and bones in space. #MissionMinerva #SpaceTok @iofbonehealth @esa pic.twitter.com\/FQWvha7RFA<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) August 25, 2022<\/p>\n Stars from the ISS:<\/p>\n Twinkle, twinkle, little star actually, on @Space_Station we gaze at the stars from above the atmosphere, so no, they dont twinkle. Also, we dont have to worry about clouds @esa pic.twitter.com\/tqjyeK2q4z<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) August 29, 2022<\/p>\n The amazing Andes, as seen from space:<\/p>\n A pass over the Andes just before sunset. Love the long shadows over the mountains! #MissionMinerva pic.twitter.com\/wNvTaEt6TC<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) August 28, 2022<\/p>\n Watching other astronauts come to space:<\/p>\n We had a spectacular view of the #Soyuz launch! Sergey, Dmitry and Frank will come knocking on our door in just a couple of hours looking forward to welcoming them to their new home! #MissionMinerva pic.twitter.com\/b6PP8L6AEl<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) September 21, 2022<\/p>\n A little science demonstration in microgravity conditions:<\/p>\n What do you think happens to the ping pong ball when I try to sink it in water? Find out! #MissionMinerva #bouyancy #SpaceTok @esa @esaspaceflight @Space_Station pic.twitter.com\/dtxW8AOtlS<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) September 24, 2022<\/p>\n Yoga in space is tricky but possible:<\/p>\n Yoga in weightlessness? Done!Its a bit tricky, but with the right poses (thanks @CosmicKidsYoga!) and some creative freedom you can do it. Take a look! https:\/\/t.co\/XXEOcFzg4L#MissionMinerva<\/a> #CosmicKids https:\/\/t.co\/H2hGPSAWmD<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) September 27, 2022<\/p>\n Heres how astronauts keep track of their weight while in space:<\/p>\n Can you 'weigh' yourself in weightlessness? Not with a regular scale. Take a look! #MissionMinerva #SpaceLife #SpaceTok @esa @esaspaceflight @Space_Station pic.twitter.com\/iBuSnLsMlD<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) October 1, 2022<\/p>\n Oh, glamorous astronaut life!<\/p>\n Oh, glamorous astronaut life! Working in the bowels of our toilet, installing a new pre-treat tank. I do love space plumbing! No worries, the toilet wasnt broken, it was just a routine activity. Pre-treat is added to urine at every use for chemical stabilization. #MissionMinerva pic.twitter.com\/NwYy7tetFg<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) October 4, 2022<\/p>\n Coral reefs as seen from space:<\/p>\n Coral reefs are an amazing sight from space, just as they are on Earth. They harbor a mindboggling diversity of marine life some call them the rainforests of the sea. Sad to think that we are on track to losing most of the worlds coral reefs to global warming.#MissionMinerva pic.twitter.com\/2TUQ29Ks8q<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) October 7, 2022<\/p>\n Heres a fun video showing Cristoforetti replicating a scene from 2001: A Space Odyssey:<\/p>\n 2022 A Space Odyssey. Turns out, yes, you can walk with Velcro shoes. Slowly, very very slowly #ASpaceOdyssey #MissionMinerva @esa @esaspaceflight @Space_Station pic.twitter.com\/WI69RXmObE<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) October 8, 2022<\/p>\n Bacteria on the ISS could be harmful to human health. Heres how crewmembers test for it:<\/p>\n There are no harmful bacteria and fungi on the @Space_Station. And if there ever were any, we would find them Take a look! #MissionMinerva #SpaceLife #SpaceTok @esa @esaspaceflight @Space_Station pic.twitter.com\/VmkZNEJegw<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) October 9, 2022<\/p>\n How microgravity means that having a cup of coffee in space is a little different to back on terra firma:<\/p>\n Having a nice cup of coffee looks slightly different in space Check it out! #MissionMinerva #CoffeeBreak #SpaceTok @esa @esaspaceflight @Space_Station pic.twitter.com\/Z68rXcPZgx<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) October 12, 2022<\/p>\n Cristoforetti and her three fellow Crew-4 colleagues flying through the space station:<\/p>\n Its been an absolute pleasure to share this experience with my crewmates of Crew-4. What amazing human beings! #MissionMinerva @astro_kjell @astro_watkins @Astro_FarmerBob @NASA_Astronauts @esa @esaspaceflight @Space_Station pic.twitter.com\/2RcRi7WY5n<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) October 13, 2022<\/p>\n And finally, a beautiful time-lapse video shot over Europe:<\/p>\n One last time, fly along with me! Farewell and, as always, thanks for all the fish! #MissionMinerva @esa @esaspaceflight @ESA_EO @Space_Station pic.twitter.com\/Dpdushsdvu<\/p>\n \u2014 Samantha Cristoforetti (@AstroSamantha) October 13, 2022<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read the original here: SpaceXs Crew-4 astronauts returned safely to Earth on Friday after a six-month stint living and working aboard the International Space Station. One of those astronauts was Samantha Cristoforetti Continue reading
\nBest bits from returned astronauts space station mission - Digital Trends<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"