Adrianos Golemis works as the Lead Flight Surgeon (medical doctor) for Astronauts of the European Space Agency (ESA) in Cologne, Germany. He has medically supported 7 spaceflights of European Astronauts in various roles, many from the USA in collaboration with NASA.
Having studied Medicine at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and followed an interdisciplinary Master’s for space in France, his career path then took him to Antarctica: There he conducted research to study the effects of extreme conditions on the human body and psychology, while living in isolation and confinement for a full year.
He holds an amateur pilot, diver, and sailing license, and adores astrophotography. He is keenly involved with science communication, ranging from scientific conferences to public talks (several of which to schools) and university courses. He is a pro bono collaborator of the Hellenic Space Centre, the Greek space agency.
In 2022 Adrianos became the only Greek ever to succeed in the competitive selection procedure of the European Space Agency for new Astronauts, having achieved a top 0.1% performance score continent-wide, among 23 000 eligible candidates. Following this success, he aspires to serve as the first-ever astronaut from Greece, to conduct unique (national and European) research in space, and to contribute to the scientific, financial and technological growth that space missions stimulate on Earth.
