Gen. Goretti: “The mission brings the Country System aboard the International Space Station. Space is our future, fundamental for increasing national scientific, technological, and operational expertise.”

The rocket successfully launched at 22:49 Italian time (16:49 local time) from the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral (Florida, US). SpaceX's Falcon 9 with the crew on board Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), of which the Italian Air Force Colonel is a part Walter Villadei.

“We are facing an epochal paradigm shift, as there have been many throughout our hundred-year history – he declared Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Team General Luca Goretti – and the Air Force, with its peculiar expertise in this domain, which is the natural extension of the aerial one, wants to be a protagonist in this change, also acting as a stimulus for the development and success of a new model of Public-private synergy of which this mission is a significant example”.

“Our gaze has always been directed towards the stars. Space is our future and it is above all that of future generations. We must continue to work and invest with a vision in this direction. The fruits of this mission and the experiments that will be conducted on board the International Space Station From Col. Villadei and the other astronauts, they will contribute to increasing fundamental scientific, technological, and operational skills in all areas, including national security and defence, and will be important pieces in continuing to lay the groundwork for the future access and use of space by everyone.“ concluded General Goretti.

The coupling of the Crew Dragon spacecraft with astronauts on board the International Space Station, in technical jargon Docking, is scheduled for the morning of January 20th; the crew, made up of four European astronauts, will remain on board the ISS for two weeks, during which a series of experiments related to human activities in space will be carried out, of great importance for the Country System at a scientific, technological and operational level.

The Italian Air Force will specifically focus on research activities concerning secure access to space and the physiological implications of remaining in orbit, and it plays a coordinating role for activities that Italian companies and start-ups have promoted in order to increase the experience of the national industrial fabric in the space sector.