Joao Lousada | Flight Director of the International Space Station (ISS)

ISS Flight Director –
Securing Operations and
the Crew’s Safety

In 2019, João Lousada was appointed flight director at the ESA Columbus Control Centre in Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich. After having demonstrated his skills and leadership as a flight controller for several years, he thus became the first Portuguese flight director of the International Space Station (ISS). João Lousada is responsible for the operation and monitoring systems of the Columbus universal multipurpose laboratory at the ISS as well as the safety of the astronaut crew on board.

To ensure a continuously smooth and safe workflow on board the ISS, João Lousada and his team are on duty around the clock. His competences and skills cover a broad spectrum – from planning and monitoring the experiments to dealing with emergencies such as meteorite impacts or fire. In addition to in-depth knowledge of all systems and possible malfunctions, the position of flight director requires excellent leadership skills.

Columbus is Europe's largest contribution to the ISS. Up to three astronauts can work in the space laboratory at the same time. The astronauts’ work focuses on materials science, fluid physics, chemistry, remote sensing, biology, biotechnology, medicine and human physiology as well as technology experiments.

Learn more at esa.int or get in touch with João!

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ISS missions

Expeditions 57 and 58

2018-2019

Expeditions 57 and 58, to the International Space Station (ISS), spanned from June 2018 to June 2019. It included the mission “Horizons”, of ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst
Joao was assigned as the lead STRATOS during that period, being responsible for the team coordination and Columbus systems planning, maintenance and operations.

Expedition 65

2021

Expedition 65 to the International Space Station (ISS), spanned from April to October 2021. It included the mission “Alpha”, of ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet.
Joao was the lead flight director, being responsible for the Europe-wide teams, assuring mission success and crew safety.

Expedition 67

2022

Expedition 67 to the International Space Station (ISS), spanned from March to September 2022. It included the mission “Minerva”, of ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.
Joao was the lead flight director, being responsible for the Europe-wide teams, assuring mission success and crew safety.

Axiom-3

2024

Operated by Axiom Space, the Axiom-3 mission was the third private astronaut mission to the International Space Station.
It was the first time an ESA astronaut flew on a commercial/private spaceflight flight, with the “Muninn” mission of ESA astronaut Marcus Wandt.
Joao was assigned as the ESA Operations Lead for the mission, being responsible for establishing and setting up this new way of conducting ESA missions with new commercial partners.