The Air Force will be on board Axiom Space's Ax-3 mission, whose launch is scheduled no earlier than January 2024 and which will bring Col. Walter Villadei on the International Space Station together with an entirely European crew, officially announced today by the American company.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto commented: “The presence of an Italian officer on board the mission is a fundamental step in the development of the Italian space strategy, in which Defense shares and supports the effort of the Government, institutions and companies of the country. This guarantees Italy's projection towards an increasingly active presence in the field of national defense and security, while at the same time seizing the opportunities offered by the New Space Economy".
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. sa Luca Goretti added: “On behalf of the entire Armed Force, I express satisfaction with the announcement of Axiom Space, which confirms our ability to train and support human activities in Space, a natural extension of the air domain”.
This activity represents a privileged opportunity for Italy to continue to promote its commitment towards safe and effective access to Space, and will also allow it to further specialize and enhance national skills in the Space domain, also thanks to collaboration with the academic world , industrial and entrepreneurial.
