The ASI’s role in Europe, within the European Space Agency and in the international relationships

Today, the Space Economy is recognized by the OECD as one of the most effective motors for economic growth, well beyond the limits of the space industry in the strict sense. At the same time, Space has become an actual foreign policy and ‘soft diplomacy’ tool, showing great flexibility and market penetration in cultural and social environments which are often structurally different.

Such topics are more relevant than ever, considering that the international context is quickly and constantly evolving, due to both the appearance on the scene of new countries which are eager to make a name for themselves in this industry and the scheduling difficulties caused by the ongoing global economic crisis and its consequences, which are sometimes protectionist.

Italy has been aware since the beginning of the great political, social and economic value of all the activities related to Space, and has always distinguished itself in the field of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, by participating in several and important international projects – both through the ASI and directly, at government level.

The large space infrastructure programmes, same as those with a high scientific profile, need by nature the mobilization of remarkable technological and financial skills. At the same time, the cooperation in these areas should have a geopolitical connotation, so that the European and/or international dimension becomes key to achieve the development and growth goals of the existing national capacities in a more efficient and effective manner.

To emphasize the complexity of the international relations system the ASI is dealing with, we can mention, amongst others, its task to continue to ensure the Italian role and participation in multilateral international coordination projects, in different international, global contexts, such as the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) and the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), as well as in strategic sectors such as the observation of the Earth (GEO, CEOS), the exploration of the universe (ISECG), medicine and microgravity (ISLSWG), the analysis of debris in space (IADC), satellite navigation (ICG) and safety.

‣ ASI in the world

The importance and value of the relationships with the European Union (UE) are referenced in the ASI’s statute. 

Italy is a founding member of the ESA (European Space Agency)

Both Italy and the ASI have been playing for some time a prestigious and recognized within the international extra-UE space community, as they have established cooperation relationships and activities ...

‣ News

TUESDAY 30 AUGUST 2022

Release of the Executive Summary of the International Mars Ice Mapper Measurement Definition Team ‣

ASI, CSA, JAXA and NASA are very pleased to release the Executive Summary of the International Mars Ice Mapper (I-MIM) Measurement Definition Team
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THURSDAY 28 JULY 2022

Send in your Hypergravity Experiment Ideas & Discuss it with ESA/OOSA ‣

Conduct your experiment at the Large Diameter Centrifuge Facility at ESTEC through the Access to Space for All-HyperGES  MORE...

FRIDAY 15 JULY 2022

IAC 2024: THE SIGNING IN MILAN KICK-STARTS THE ORGANIZATION OF THE EVENT ‣

Italy at the centre of the international debate on the use of Space to support sustainability: the agreement and contract to host the 75th edition of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in 2024 in the Lombard capital

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WEDNESDAY 15 JUNE 2022

NASA, Partner Agency Leaders to Talk to Space Station Astronauts ‣

On June 17 at  1:40 p.m NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, Italian Space Agency (ASI) President Giorgio Saccoccia, and U.S. embassy leadership will speak with astronauts aboard the ISS MORE...

THURSDAY 28 APRIL 2022

Samantha Cristoforetti has arrived on the Space Station ‣

The hatch is opened: the Minerva mission kicks off. During her mission, the ESA astronaut will conduct several scientific experiments for the ASI

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