Florence, August 7, 2024 – The University of Florence is the champion of Italian space research. The University of Florence aims for the stars and participates in the expanded PNRR partnership “Space it Up”, a project funded by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR) with an investment of eighty million euros, which aims to make a turning point in space science research in our country.
The consortium brings together thirty-three people who will address in a synergistic and multidisciplinary way the main scientific and technological challenges inherent in the field of space exploration: from knowledge of space to the sustainable exploitation of its resources in the future, also in view of the possible future of human settlement. These are thirty-three entities including universities, research institutions and industries. The project involves the participation of five departments of the University: specifically, Earth Sciences; Physics and Astronomy; Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Sciences and Technologies; Industrial Engineering and Architecture. Within “Space It Up”, the University of Florence will work in four axes: two are included in the overall field of Earth Observation research (Segment 5 – Protection of the Planet; Segment 7 – Sustainable Development of the Planet) while the others belong to that of extraterrestrial exploration (Segment 8 – Human Exploration and Robotics; Segment 9 – Habitat, Space and Science).
Unifi has been entrusted with the co-direction of Spoke 9 – in partnership with the University of Padua – to study extraterrestrial environments and resources, with the aim of making human survival in space possible for long periods of time, also through future missions and settlements on extraterrestrial bodies, such as the Moon and Mars. “The University of Florence is at the forefront of a project of strategic importance – says Giovanni Pratesi, University delegate for the “Space it Up” project -. The challenges we will face will not only have scientific implications of absolute importance, but – adds Giovanni Pratesi – will lead to the creation of new highly qualified professionals who will contribute to the development and progress of space science in Italy, thus reaffirming the first role that our country occupies at the international level”.
Maurizio Costanzo
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