Roberto Vittori graduated from the Italian Air Force Academy in 1989 with a degree in Aeronautical Science. Completed basic training with the US Air Force at Reese Air Force Base in Texas, US, in 1990 ?Graduated from the US Navy Test Pilot School in 1995. Completed the Italian Air Force’s Accident Prevention course (Guidonia AFB, Italy) and Accident Investigation course (Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, US) between 1996 and 1997. Graduated from the NATO Defense College Senior Course 108 in 2006.Completed a master’s degree in physics in December 2007.
Following graduation from pilot training in 1990, Roberto Vittori flew Tornado GR1 aircraft with the 155^th Squadron, 50^th Wing, Piacenza, Italy from 1991 to 1994. During that time, he qualified for day and night air-to-air refuelling as well as a formation leader. In 1995, he completed the US Navy Test Pilot School training. He then served at the Italian Test Centre as project pilot for the development of the new European aircraft, the EuroFighter EF2000, until 1998. From 1996 to 1998, he was the national representative in the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile research and development programme. In 1997, he attended the US Air Force Flight Safety School. From 1997 to 1998, Roberto Vittori was wing Flight Safety Officer at the Italian Test Centre. He was also a teacher of aerodynamics for the Italian Air Force’s Accident Investigation Course. Roberto Vittori is a colonel in the Italian Air Force. He has logged nearly 2000 hours in over 40 different aircraft, including F-104, Tornado GR1, F-18, AMX, M-2000, G-222 and P-180.
In July 1998, he was selected as an astronaut by Italy’s ASI space agency in cooperation with ESA and, one month later, he joined ESA’s Astronaut Corps, based at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany. In August 1998, Roberto Vittori was relocated to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA, and entered the 1998 Astronaut class for assignments on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. Roberto Vittori completed his Mission Specialist training and performed technical duties in the Space Shuttle Operations Systems Branch, Robotics, Future Vehicle and International Space Station Branch. In August 2001, he took up training as flight engineer at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Russia, in preparation for his first spaceflight. In August 2002, Roberto Vittori returned to Johnson Space Center, where he supported the New Generation Space Vehicles Branch. Between February 2006 and August 2008, he was detached to the Italian Air Force under an agreement with ESA. During the detachment he served on the Board of ASI’s Technical Scientific Committee.
Roberto Vittori enjoys soccer, running, swimming and reading.