Thursday, September 11 was a significant day for the “Space Factory” group, marked by the visit of the President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Professor Teodoro Valente, to the group’s headquarters.
During his visit, the President toured the Center’s facilities and, inside the Clean Room, observed the ground demonstrator of the microsatellite IREOS-0—featuring an innovative thermal shield deployment system designed to ensure its safe and intact re-entry from space.
The microsatellite, scheduled for launch in 2026, will carry two MiniLabs (Model 3.0)—smart mini-laboratories enabling interactive management of scientific experiments in orbit.
Notable attendees included:
- Massimo Claudio Comparini – Managing Director, Leonardo Space Business Unit.
- Luca Rossettini – Founder & CEO, D-Orbit
- Aniello Violetti – Space Attaché, Embassy of I.taly in Washington.
- Paolo Netti – Director, Centre for Advanced Biomaterials for Health Care, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia.
- Stefania De Pascale – Professor of Horticulture and Floriculture, Department of Agriculture, University of Naples “Federico II”, and Member of the ASI Scientific and Technical Committee (CTS).
- Geppino Falco – Professor of Applied Biology, Department of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”.
- Mariano Bizzarri – Professor of Pathology, Department of Experimental Medicine (Systems Biology Group), Sapienza University of Rome; Director, National Laboratory of Space Biomedicine; and Scientific Coordinator of the COMINT technical/scientific board.
- Mario Mustilli – Professor of Business Economics and Management, Department of Business and Economic Studies, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”.