Meloni hails Italy's growing space leadership with Iride

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 15 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday hailed the launch of the first Iride satellite from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, saying it boosted Italy's role in the space sector and confirmed National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) funds were being used effectively.
    The first Iride satellite - the Pathfinder Hawk - is now in orbit around earth after lifting off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the base in California on Tuesday, the European Space Agency has said.
    "I want to express my congratulations for the launch, which took place at the Vandenberg base in California, of the first satellite for national constellation Iride", said the premier, defining it a "result that consolidates Italy's leadership in the space sector and shows the effective use of NRRP funds".
    The premier added that, thanks to the cooperation between Italian aerospace engineering company Argotec and Elon Musk's SpaceX company, progress is being made in the "sector of the observation of Earth, the safeguard of the environment and the prevention of natural risks", hailing the "crucial role" played by Italian companies in innovation and scientific progress.
    (ANSA).