An astronaut has something in him that attracts young people and is a model for them to draw inspiration from to make their dreams come true, overcome physical and mental boundaries, courageously go beyond borders, and enter the advanced world of discoveries. Therefore the presence at the chimneys of the astronaut colonel of the Air Force Walter Villadei attracted hundreds of students (IIS “Leonardo” of Giarre, Industrial Technical Institute “Archimede”, Aeronautical Technical Institute “A. Ferrarin”, Scientific High Schools “Boggio Lera” “Galileo Galilei” and “Prince Umberto”) who, moved by their passion for science, asked the astronaut many questions: what course of study should you take to go into space? How do you live in orbit and what do you eat? What are the effects of weightlessness on the organism? How does time flow in the cabin 400km from Earth and what experiments are performed?
The astronaut colonel’s answers were the focus of the meeting “Italian science on the International Space Station. The Ax-3 mission and the role of ASI”, organized by the Italian Space Agency, in collaboration with the Metropolitan City of Catania and with the participation of representatives from the world of institutions, universities and the Air Force, all in agreement in stating that Italy plays a leading role in the international arena: its scientific community has earned great prestige since 1964, the year that marked the beginning of the Italian space age with the launch of the artificial satellite into orbit of the San Marco project.
The metropolitan mayor Enrico Trantino addressed young people and their ability to look to the future with confidence; the president of the Italian Space Agency, Teodoro Valente; Air Force General Aurelio Colagrande, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force; Professor Stefano Romano, full professor of Nuclear and Subnuclear Physics and director of the “Ettore Majorana” UniCt Department of Physics and Astronomy; Luca Vincenzo Maria Salamone, Director General of the Italian Space Agency; Barbara Negri, head of the ASI human flight and scientific experimentation unit, who coordinated the round table. During the meeting, conducted by Giuseppina Piccirilli of the Italian Space Agency, the message sent by Minister Adolfo Urso, of the Department of Business and Made in Italy, was read.
“Guys we need you to achieve goals, to identify new scenarios and possibilities, to take care of our planet and make it more sustainable. The answers to the challenges of today and tomorrow live in space.” With these words the adults made a heartfelt appeal to young people, reminding them that space is not that far away, since we obtain daily information on weather conditions and on navigation and telecommunications systems from satellites.
Francesco Villa, student of the aeronautical technical institute “A. Ferrarin”, first place in the Aeronautical Culture Course, organized last February by Forza Azzurra in Catania, embodied with his presence on stage the expectations of the most promising young people and with the principal, Patrizia Pittalà, spoke with satisfaction about the his experience which will lead him to participate in an internship at the 60th Wing of Guidonia next summer.
Colonel Walter Villadei, for his part, said “thanks to the Air Force, the Italian Space Agency and the Metropolitan City of Catania for organizing this beautiful day. A precious opportunity to talk to students from schools in Catania, discussing innovation, scientific research and the future of human flight in space. Passion, commitment and patience are fundamental, without being afraid of falling but being ready to get up, maintaining trust in the institutions, which enhance the professionalism and skills of the youngest”.
At the end of the meeting, great applause and thanks also to the students of the “K. Wojtyla” who took care of the welcome.
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