Science and research for the space sector, with innovative applications in fashion and technical clothing, sustainability and cuisine. For the Italian Space Day, the diplomatic-consular network in India offered a wide and varied programme of events dedicated to deepening cooperation in the space sector between the two countries.
Among the various initiatives, the exhibition 'From The Moon to Mars', promoted by the Consulate General of Italy in Bangalore and hosted until 26 January at the Science Gallery, traces the main stages of Italy in space: from Leonardo da Vinci's pioneering projects to the successes of the Italian Space Agency, starting from the launch of the San Marco 1 satellite on 16 December 60 years ago. In fact, Italy's first significant entry into modern space history.
In New Delhi, the 'Living in Space' exhibition organised by the Italian Embassy and the Institute of Culture, on the other hand, focused on the challenges that life in space poses to the crews of current and future missions, proposing innovative solutions to tackle them effectively. New approaches to contain and neutralise contamination in confined environments; study and analysis of the human body's adaptations during prolonged stay in low-gravity environments; microalgae culture systems for developing new nutrients and reducing carbon dioxide.
A delegation of professors from the University of Sassari visited India for the occasion. The researchers presented the various scientific topics covered by the conference and deepened their exchanges with their Indian counterparts from the Indian Space Agency (ISRO) and the Indian reference agency for the commercial side (InSpace).
"Collaboration in space research between Italy and India presents important opportunities for growth," noted Professor Sergio Ledda, Scientific Attaché of the Italian Embassy in New Delhi. "Dedicated sessions on space nutrition showed how it is possible in the future to meet the challenges posed by life beyond Earth. The event at the Embassy gave a concrete example of this through the balanced food formulations presented by the start-up EAT-freedom: a demonstration session with the preparation of a meal for space crews was followed by a tasting of food derived from thermostable and freeze-dried preparations. Participants were thus able to taste the same preparations normally used by astronauts on the international space station.
This combination of research, technique and creativity was also taken up in the fashion and 'space clothing' strand, with a presentation of designer spacesuits with a presentation of the suits designed by Prada for the US company Axiom Space.
For Alfonso Tagliaferri, Consul General of Italy in Bangalore, the current event is a "great moment in the collaboration between Italy and India on space; a collaboration that has been underway for some time, and which is experiencing an extraordinary acceleration in the last two years.
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