Details of the next astronaut's flight to the ISS will be provided during a press conference at 10:30 am on July 30 at the ASI headquarters. The new Italian astronaut will stay on board the ISS for approximately six months as part of the ESA team that will carry out the ISS mission 52/53. The astronaut was selected in collaboration with NASA as part of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between NASA and ASI in 1997, under which Italy has provided Multi-Purpose Logistics Modules for space shuttle missions in exchange for flight and experimentation opportunities on the ISS. ASI President Roberto Battiston and the Head of the European Astronaut Centre (ESA), Frank De Winne, will speak at the press conference. (AGI)