Italian Space Agency (ASI)

Space Agency and Office • Member since 1989

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With a dynamic and innovation vision for the future, world-class industrial and scientific expertise, and a strong commitment to global partnerships, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) represents a cornerstone of international space cooperation and diplomacy. Established in 1988, ASI is the national agency responsible for planning and implementing the Italian space policy and strategy. It operates under the supervision of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and follows the guidelines of the Interministerial Committee for Space and Aerospace Policies (COMINT) chaired by the Minister of Enterprises and in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Cooperation on international agreements and related matters.

ASI is actively engaged across all space domains, from Earth Observation to Telecommunications and Navigation, from Space Sciences to Exploration, Infrastructures and Operations, from space technologies to Space Surveillance. ASI manages a broad portfolio of national space missions and significantly contributes to major European programs as the third-largest subscriber to the European Space Agency (ESA). Italy’s participation includes significant involvement in the Galileo global navigation satellite system, the Copernicus Earth observation program and the European launcher development including Ariane and VEGA.

Through long-standing bilateral cooperation beyond Europe- most notably with NASA, JAXA, CSA, ISRO, CONAE, KSA and other partners - ASI supports a broad range of cutting-edge scientific and technology missions that place Italy at the forefront of global space research and innovation.

From the earliest phases of the International Space Station (ISS), for which the Italian industry built three Multi Purposes pressurized Modules (MPLM) in cooperation with NASA, and the Cupola, the Nodes and the contribution to ATV and Columbus Laboratory through ESA program, ASI has strengthened its role in human spaceflight and planetary exploration. Since 1992 ASI has participated in human space flight missions starting with the Shuttle program: up to 2024, seven Italian astronauts flew abord the ISS with NASA and Roscosmos. In 2022, two Italian astronauts have been admitted as reserves in the recent class of ESA astronauts. Today, ASI is a key contributor to the NASA’s Artemis program, through the development of the European Service Module for the Orion spacecraft and the Italian first lunar habitation module. A lot of Italian scientific payloads have been developed for NASA and ESA missions to explore the solar system and beyond and to study the most powerful phenomena in the Universe.

In Earth science and observation, ASI plays a global leadership role through flagship programs such as COSMO-SkyMed radar constellation and SIASGE (in collaboration with CONAE), the PRISMA hyperspectral satellite, and the new IRIDE constellation (in collaboration with ESA), the most ambitious European space-based environmental monitoring system to support climate research, natural disaster response and sustainable development. International cooperation remains a strategic priority for ASI. The agency is committed to fostering partnerships with spacefaring nations, as well as emerging and developing spacefaring nations. Dedicated programs on education and training are carried out particularly with Latin America and Africa countries.

ASI also promotes the international space dialogue through its active participation and membership in UN-COPUOS, IAF, COSPAR, EURISY, GEO, CEO, ISECG, IADC, EOCD Space Forum and other thematic Committees and Fora

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