Maurizio CHELI

Maurizio Cheli was born on May 4, 1959, in Modena, Italy.

Cheli received a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Sciences from the Italian Air Force Academy in 1982. He then graduated from the Italian Air Force War College in 1987 and the Empire Test Pilot School in 1988. He furthered his education with a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Houston in 1994, a Master of Science "Magna cum Laude" in Political Science from the University of Torino in 2004, and an MBA from ESCP-EAP in Paris in 2007.

Cheli's military career began after his graduation from the Italian Air Force Academy, followed by pilot training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma, in 1982-1983. After additional training at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, and in Italy with the F-104G, he joined the 28th Squadron, 3rd Recce Wing in 1984. After graduating from the Empire Test Pilot's School, he served as a project pilot for the Tornado and B-707 Tanker at the Italian Air Force Flight Test Center in Rome. Throughout his career, Cheli accumulated over 4,500 flying hours across more than 50 different types of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

In 1992, Cheli was selected as a European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut. After training at the Johnson Space Center, he qualified as a mission specialist and flew on the STS-75 mission in 1996, where he logged over 377 hours in space. The mission focused on the re-flight of the Tethered Satellite System (TSS) and the United States Microgravity Payload (USMP-3), conducting significant research on the electrodynamics of tethers and plasma physics.

After leaving ESA in July 1996, Cheli became Chief Test Pilot at Alenia Aeronautica in Torino, Italy, contributing extensively to the development of the Eurofighter Typhoon and other company projects, including UAVs. He also served as a display pilot for the Eurofighter Typhoon at various international air shows. In December 2007, he was appointed Director of Operational Development at Alenia Aeronautica, where he continued to contribute to the company's development programs.

Cheli's spaceflight on STS-75 involved important research on the electrodynamics of tethers and plasma physics. The mission provided valuable data despite the tether breaking just short of its goal distance. The crew also conducted numerous experiments related to microgravity, contributing to advancements in medicine, metal alloys, and semiconductors. STS-75 launched on February 22, 1996, and landed on March 9, 1996, completing 252 orbits and covering nearly 10.5 million kilometers.

Events

International Astronautical Congress 2024

14-18 October 2024

Milan, Italy

Participation: