Here is a new addition for my European friends, and the first piece in the collection signed by a European Space Agency astronaut. International Space Station - Spedizione 60/61- Союз MS-13...Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer Repair Mission Here is the new piece for my collections signed by European Space Agency (ESA) Head Astronaut Colonel Luca Parmitano. In February 2011, Parmitano was assigned as a flight engineer to Italian space agency’s first long-duration mission on the International Space Station. He was launched on a Soyuz rocket from Baikonur, Kazakhstan on May 23, 2013. Parmitano spent 166 days in space and took part in two spacewalks and the docking of four spacecraft during his mission. Parmitano again launched to the International Space Station for his second mission in the Russian Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft on July 20, 2019, the 50th anniversary of the first human lunar landing. His 201-day mission saw him take on the role of Space Station commander for Expedition 61, becoming the third European and first ever Italian International Space Station commander. He also conducted a series complex spacewalks to repair the cosmic-particle-hunting Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer instrument, AMS-02. In total, Parmitano carried out four spacewalks, totaling 25 hours and 30 minutes. He has now conducted six spacewalks in his career, totaling 33 hours and 9 minutes. There is no better way to introduce you to Colonel Parmitano and the Expedition 60/61 mission than by watching this brief European Space Agency presentation. Challenging Spacewalks for Luca (CREIDT - ESA) European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano adjusts his communications headset while being assisted into his Sokol spacesuit. (CREDIT - NASA) Expedition 60 Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano is escorted on his left by the Director General of the European Space Agency, as he prepares to board the Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft for launch on July 20, 2019, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Parmitano’s Omega Speedmaster is strapped to his left arm. (CREDIT - NASA) The Soyuz MS-13 rocket is launched with Expedition 60 Soyuz Flight Engineer Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency, Flight Engineer Andrew Morgan of NASA, and Soyuz Commander Alexander Skvortsov of Roscosmos on July 20, 2019, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Skvortsov, Morgan, and Parmitano launched at 9:28 p.m. Baikonur time to begin their mission to the International Space Station. (CREDIT - NASA) The Soyuz MS-13 approaches the International Space Station for a docking to the Zvezda service module's rear docking port. Here is the new piece signed by Luca Parmitano for my Speedmaster Signature Collection marking Luca Parmitano's docking time and date arriving at the International Space Station. Luca Parmitano assumes command of the International Space Station from Expedition 60 Commander Alexey Ovchinin. As Ovchinin hands over command of the International Space Station, astronaut Hazzaa Ali Almansoori of the United Arab Emirates marks the transition with the traditional ringing of the ships bell which is a long-standing Naval tradition of signaling the arrival or departure of the ships Captain, Flag-Officer, or other important person. (CREDIT - NASA) The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) is a high profile space-based particle physics experiment. As the largest and most advanced magnetic spectrometer in space, AMS will collect information from cosmic sources emanating from stars and galaxies millions of light years beyond the Milky Way. (CREDIT- NASA) A debris shield that was removed from the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, the International Space Station's cosmic particle detector, is pictured drifting away from Luca Parmitano after he manually jettisoned it. The debris shield was detached by the spacewalkers so they could access and begin the repairs of the AMS thermal control system. (CREDIT - NASA) Luca Parmitano, attached to the Canadarm2 robotic arm, carries the new thermal pump system that was installed on the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) during the third spacewalk to upgrade the AMS, the International Space Station's cosmic particle detector. (CREDIT - NASA) Two locals on horseback arrive at the Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft shortly after it landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan with Expedition 61 crew members Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency, Koch of NASA, Alexander Skvortsov of the Roscosmos on February 6, 2020. (CREDIT - NASA) Luca Parmitano is helped out of the Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft just minutes after landing. (CREDIT - NASA) Luca all smiles after his successful 201-day mission sitting outside the Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft. (CREDIT - NASA) Here is a nice picture Luca included with the signed case back upon its return. Grazie Mille Colonel Parmitano. This collection has been assembled for my own personal use and its sole purpose is to honor the men and women that participated in the spaceflight program and their achievements. The collection is not endorsed by Omega, The Swatch Group, European Space Agency, NASA, or the astronauts participating and there are no commercial or financial interests associated with the collection. In no way do I benefit either financially or otherwise from this collection.