Greek astronaut candidate Adrian Golemis — set to become the first Greek to travel to space — was received by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Maximos Mansion on Thursday, 25 June 2026. The meeting, chaired by Mitsotakis, focused on preparations for Greece’s historic first manned mission to the International Space Station (ISS), following Golemis’s official entry into the European Space Agency’s (ESA) astronaut training programme.
Timeline and Scope of the Mission
The launch is scheduled to take place within the next two years, with the mission expected to last up to three weeks. It forms a cornerstone of Greece’s new National Space Strategy, which extends to 2035.
Scientific and Educational Impact
During the meeting, officials highlighted the broad benefits for Greece’s scientific community. Golemis will conduct experiments and technology demonstrations proposed by dozens of Greek research teams, universities, and institutions — as well as innovative solutions developed by Greek companies operating under space conditions.
The mission will generate valuable data for future applications and research, while also opening doors for strategic international partnerships. Beyond advancing national research and showcasing Greek technological capabilities, the initiative includes outreach programmes aimed at inspiring young people to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Among the educational initiatives discussed were a student satellite-building competition, nationwide STEM challenges, and opportunities for schoolchildren to submit questions directly to astronauts aboard the ISS.
Participants in the Meeting
Also present were Digital Governance and Artificial Intelligence Minister Dimitris Papastergiou; Secretary-General for Telecommunications and Postal Services Konstantinos Karantzalos; and Dr. Adrian Golemis, physician and ESA astronaut trainee.
The event coincides with the ongoing national initiative ‘Greece in Space’, attended by Prime Minister Mitsotakis.