Maurizio Cheli

Maurizio Cheli
NASA · Public domain · source
Name	Maurizio Cheli
Birth date	1 July 1959
Birth place	Modena, Italy
Nationality	Italian
Occupation	Test pilot, Astronaut, Aviator
Alma mater	Politecnico di Milano
Awards	__NOTOC__

Maurizio Cheli is an Italian aviator, test pilot and former European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut who flew on a NASA Space Shuttle mission as a Payload Specialist. He is noted for combining a career in the Italian Air Force with roles in aerospace engineering, flight testing and corporate aviation management. Cheli's work spans operational service, experimental test programs, international spaceflight and post-ESA involvement in aviation industry initiatives.

Early life and education

Cheli was born in Modena, Italy and raised in a region known for Ferrari, Ducati Motor Holding and Italian motorsport heritage. He graduated with an engineering degree from the Politecnico di Milano where he studied aerospace-related disciplines during a period when European aeronautics programs such as Aérospatiale partnerships and British Aerospace collaborations were active. While a student he became involved with aviation clubs associated with the Italian Air Force and regional aeronautical societies linked to the European Space Agency educational outreach.

Military and test pilot career

After his commission into the Italian Air Force, Cheli trained at service flight schools that were integrated with NATO training pipelines including courses influenced by NATO Defense College doctrines and cross-national exchange with the United States Air Force and Royal Air Force. He flew operational aircraft types within the Italian fleet and was selected for advanced test pilot training at institutions affiliated with the Empire Test Pilots' School and United States Naval Test Pilot School exchanges. Cheli participated in flight test programs that interfaced with multinational aerospace firms such as Alenia Aeronautica, Aeritalia and later European consortiums like EADS; his work covered handling qualities, avionics integration and weapons systems trials.

European Space Agency astronaut career

Selected as an astronaut candidate associated with ESA programs, Cheli trained alongside international astronaut cohorts that included personnel from NASA, Roscosmos, CSA and JAXA. His astronaut training encompassed spacecraft systems familiarization influenced by the Space Shuttle program, rendezvous and docking procedures developed during Space Shuttle–Mir cooperation, and extravehicular activity preparation used in International Space Station assembly planning. Cheli served in ESA support roles tied to European contributions such as the Columbus (ISS module), Hermes (spaceplane), and payload integration activities involving industrial partners like Thales Alenia Space and EADS Astrium.

Spaceflights and missions

Cheli flew as a Payload Specialist on STS-75, a Space Shuttle mission operated by NASA that carried microgravity and tether experiments designed by international teams including researchers from ESA, ASI and university groups. STS-75's primary objectives included the deployment and reflight of the Tethered Satellite System developed in cooperation with Italian National Research Council and NASA contractors, and conduction of the United States Microgravity Payload. The mission linked to experiments with ties to laboratories at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, European Organization for Nuclear Research collaborations and industry partners such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin. During STS-75 Cheli worked with crewmates from NASA and international agencies to operate payloads and perform in-orbit troubleshooting, contributing to data that informed later microgravity research and tether dynamics studies.

Post-NASA/ESA career and aviation work

After his flight career, Cheli transitioned into roles that bridged industry, entrepreneurship and aviation promotion. He accepted positions with aerospace manufacturers and consultancies collaborating with European defense and space companies such as Leonardo S.p.A. (formerly Finmeccanica), Thales Group and smaller technology ventures. Cheli founded and advised aviation startups, participated in executive programs influenced by the European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre network, and served on boards promoting general aviation and air sports affiliated with organizations like Fédération Aéronautique Internationale and national aeronautical federations. He also engaged in demonstration flights, aerobatic displays and outreach events at airshows where manufacturers including Piaggio Aerospace and ATR presented platforms.

Awards and honors

Cheli's service and flight achievements earned recognition from Italian and international bodies. He received military decorations from the Italian Air Force and commendations connected to spaceflight contributions from ASI and ESA-affiliated honors. His honors include awards presented at industry ceremonies involving aerospace institutions such as European Aeronautics Science Network gatherings and acknowledgements by regional entities in Emilia-Romagna for promoting aviation and space education.

Category:Italian astronauts Category:Italian aviators Category:People from Modena