Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti has become the first woman from Europe to assume the role of commander of the International Space Station (ISS). Russian cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev handed over the station’s symbolic “keys” to Cristoforetti, 45, on Wednesday. The Italian follows in the footsteps of four previous European commanders. In the role, Cristoforetti is responsible, among other things, for the safety of her crew and ensuring close cooperation between those on board and colleagues on Earth. Cristoforetti, who was born in Milan, has been on her second tour of the space station since…