A great opportunity that allowed academics to discover more about the microgravity experimentation activities that the Italian Air Force astronaut carried out in orbit
Tuesday 12th March, in the’Aldo Cossu Aula Magna of the Bari University Palace, one of the first events of the post-flight tour of the mission Ax-3 “Voluntas”, where the university community had the opportunity to meet the Col. Walter Villadei, upon his return from his eighteen-day stay in orbit on the International Space Station.
The Magnificent Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bari Aldo Moro“ Stefano Bronzini opened the event by welcoming the local authorities, teaching staff and students present in the lecture hall. At the speakers' table the Commander of the Italian Air Force Schools Command / 3rd Air Region Air Squad General Silvano Frigerio.
In his opening speech, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bari he recalled that “the objective is to show how Space is a place for multidisciplinary research; the presence of a testimonial like Col. Villadei is a source of pride for the entire University of Bari. Space it means search e search it means tomorrowthis is the message we want to give, especially to young people”.
After thanking the Rector for the hospitality, the Gen. SA Silvano Frigerio highlighted: “The Italian Air Force is happy that the post-flight tour that the Voluntas mission had one of its very first events in Bari. As an Armed Force and as the Italy system, we have the Vision to increase our presence in this new frontier which is Space, because the Air Force sees Space as the natural extension of its own operational domain. A watershed experience for many reasons: the first time the Italian Air Force has led a mission in space; the first time it was done via a commercial and not an institutional actor; a great deal of research was carried out, allowing institutions and companies to gain experience to keep Italy's role in Space relevant in the future as well.
Speaking of the Voluntas mission, the Col. Walter Villadei he emphasised: “It was an extraordinary experience to see the Earth from space, to see Italy from space, with the awareness that it is an extraordinary country that has played a fundamental role in the development of space activities. Voluntas brought together the scientific, academic, military and institutional worlds, and it was a great emotional moment to have once again brought the Italian tricolour on board the International Space Station”After enchanting the audience with her testimony, addressing the students he then concluded: “I am particularly glad to be here, in this post-flight tour. Space is not that far away and for you it represents a concrete professional and growth opportunity. Not only for those who wish to become astronauts, but also for many other professions. Space is characterised as a strongly interdisciplinary domain”.
