Aeronautica Militare and Axiom develop cooperation. Agreements for an orbital flight and training as part of the Ax-3 mission to the International Space Station (ISS)
The Italian Air Force has signed a series of agreements with Axiom Space at our embassy in Washington for an orbital flight and related training as part of the Ax-3 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). This was announced by the Ministry of Defense in a statement. Ax-3 is the third entirely commercial mission conducted by the American company, which will take place by the end of 2023. In particular, the agreements provide for the advanced training of an Air Force officer and the participation in the space mission of an astronaut from the Armata Azzurra towards the International Space Station (ISS) and from the latter towards the Earth. The agreements are part of the activities already started in 2018 by the Air Force with Axiom in the sectors of Commercial Spaceflight and New Space Economy, and are in line with the objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2022 between the Ministry for ‘Technological innovation and the digital transition and AXIOM itself on the initiative of the Italian Embassy in the United States. Moreover, Axiom Space is the only company to have signed an agreement with NASA for the development of a commercial space station that will be able to dock with the current ISS.
Defense Minister Crosetto: The mission is a unique opportunity for the Defense and for Italy with a view to consolidating national skills in the field of human space flight for access to low orbits and strengthening international cooperation in the space sector
“The Ax-3 mission represents a unique opportunity for the Defense and for the country – declared the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto -, with a view to consolidating national skills in the field of human spaceflight for access to orbits and a strengthening of international cooperation in the space sector, not limited to human spaceflight alone, but more generally to aerospace technology, access to space, innovative technologies, suborbital flight and on-orbit operations. This collaboration – added Crosetto – is a clear recognition of the experience and skills acquired over the years by the Air Force in the field of training and space missions and allows to increase the development and use of the space dimension for peaceful uses within the Italian national space strategy”. The collaboration with Axiom offers Italy the opportunity to acquire an important competitive advantage over other countries and international players. In fact, it will allow our country (already a leader in the construction of orbital housing modules) to strengthen its position on the world market, contributing to the development of a real Italian “new space economy”, creating new market spaces and opportunities for the made in Italy.
