Space Factory is the main sponsor of the simulated mission of astronaut Roberto Vittori in Prague 

From September 20 to 24, General Roberto Vittori, a veteran of two space missions aboard the Soyuz, one mission on the Space Shuttle and three stays aboard the International Space Station, will participate in an isolation experiment at the Hydronaut facility in Prague.

This simulation, part of the mission called “Luna One”, aims to prepare astronauts for future missions to lunar bases.

The Hydronaut, located in Prague in the complex known as “Little Moon City”, is designed to replicate the environmental conditions of the Moon.

General Vittori will spend several days inside a completely sealed habitat, where devices and technologies for scientific experiments and emergency management will be tested. During the experiment, physiological parameters will be monitored, along with the use of advanced life support systems.

Vittori will test in particular a mini-interactive laboratory for experiments in microgravity conditions and the opening of the heat shields of the IREOS 0 microsatellite for controlled reentry from space. Both technologies, developed by the Space Factory group, are part of a project co-financed by Intesa SanPaolo through the Nova+ instrument.

The simulated context includes on-site oxygen production with water propulsion systems (MiProns srl technology), combined with flexible solar panels (Astradyne technology) and solar cells supplied by CESI srl. Freeze-dried food products (Tiberino srl) and surface scouting systems (Evolunar srl technology) complete the picture.

General Vittori stated: “In the era of the space economy, private initiatives are taking on an increasingly important role, especially in synergy with the academic and university world.

Italian industry, which contributed to the construction of approximately 50% of the pressurized structures of the International Space Station (ISS), is in an ideal position to develop future lunar habitation modules.

The “Luna One” mission is an entirely Italian project, which includes national technologies and innovations, such as the habitat, freeze-dried food products, countermeasures for the protection of astronauts and revolutionary technologies for lunar exploration, including water propulsion systems, lunar drones, “deployable” solar panels, mini-laboratories and atmospheric reentry systems. All innovations 'made in Italy' to be proud of.”

Prof. Mariano Bizzarri, Director of the Sapienza-Thales Alenia Spazio Space Biomedicine Laboratory, illustrated the scientific importance of the experiment: “The experiment conducted by Gen. Vittori addresses critical aspects of space exploration in lunar orbits, in line with the objectives of the ARTEMIS mission.

For the first time, we will test the response to stress and that of the immune system, through the dosage of specific salivary markers. In particular, the alterations of interleukins (IL-2, IL-6) will be studied to develop targeted countermeasures. This is a step forward towards personalized medicine for astronauts, in which our laboratory is engaged together with Space Factory.”

Prof. Luigi Carrino, president of the Campania Aerospace District, added: “Campania’s role in space research has grown rapidly, becoming a national and international point of reference.

The technological solutions developed in collaboration between universities and companies, many of which thanks to Space Factory, are supported by the Campania Aerospace District. General Vittori's activities, including the experimentation of the Space Factory mini-laboratory, are of great scientific and technological importance, and reaffirm the role of Campania in the space sector."

The mission, sponsored by Space Factory, MARSCENTER, GRADED and the Campania Aerospace District – DAC, is coordinated by the Polytechnic University of Bari and sponsored by the Campania Region, the Puglia Region and the La Sapienza Space Biomedicine Laboratory – Thales Alenia Space Italia.