Roberto Vittori training

European astronaut Roberto Vittori during a survival training in Black Sea for its next taxi flight mission.
April's scheduled Soyuz launch - a taxi flight to the International Space Station - will carry with it a European astronaut on his maiden voyage into orbit. For Italian Roberto Vittori, the launch will mark a literal high point in his career so far. And although he has never been in space before, he will be bringing a wealth of flying experience to the mission.