In a historic milestone for Greece’s scientific and technological landscape, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis officially announced the upcoming mission of the first Greek astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS). The announcement came during his working visit to the French capital on the sidelines of the International Space Summit, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Grand Palais.
Official Announcement: Adrianos Golemis to Orbit
Prime Minister Mitsotakis confirmed that medical doctor and European Space Agency (ESA) reserve astronaut Adrianos Golemis will become the first Greek national in orbit, taking part in the upcoming international PAM-6 mission.
“This is a momentous milestone and an inspiring day for our nation,” Mitsotakis stated, emphasizing that the selection reflects years of rigorous training as well as Greece’s expanding national space ecosystem. The mission underscores Greece’s shift from a passive observer to an active participant in cutting-edge international orbital research.
Bilateral Discussions and the Paris Summit Agenda
During their bilateral exchanges at the summit and ahead of official engagements at the Élysée Palace, Prime Minister Mitsotakis and President Macron reaffirmed the strategic partnership between Athens and Paris, emphasizing European technological sovereignty and collaborative space policy.
Summit deliberations and bilateral talks focused on three primary pillars:
• Global space economy — Scaling industrial competitiveness and attracting cross-border high-tech investments.
• Scientific exploration and innovation — Leveraging orbital Earth-observation data for climate resilience and natural disaster response.
• Space security and defense — Protecting sovereign satellite infrastructure in orbit and strengthening European strategic autonomy.
President Macron welcomed Greece’s proactive role in European space initiatives, noting that joint investments and shared research programs are essential to keeping the continent competitive globally.
Greece’s National Space Strategy
The announcement coincides with the rollout of Greece’s National Microsatellite Program, backed by over 350 million euros from the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). The initiative funds domestic design, manufacturing, and launch capabilities for small satellites aimed at secure government communications, maritime surveillance, and emergency response management.
Through its presence at the Paris summit, the Greek delegation highlighted that investing in space infrastructure and human spaceflight serves as a cornerstone for domestic innovation, high-tech employment, and long-term economic growth.
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