A new space mission is being prepared for an Italian astronaut, probably Walter Villadei with the company Axiom Space. The indication was provided by the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, who opened the work of the third edition of the States General of the Space Economy at the Farnesina. The mission, called Axiom 5, will be discussed at the next meeting of the Interministerial Committee for policies relating to space and aerospace research (Comint). Axiom 5 is the fifth private space mission to the International Space Station, assigned by NASA to Axiom Space and scheduled to start in January 2027.
«We must be protagonists of Axiom's fifth space mission - explained Tajani - we will propose the Italian command and involve our entire scientific community and all our territories. This is a strategic opportunity for the system and for our industry", said Tajani, also recalling that the United States is our reference partner. Italy - he then added - is a key partner of the great Artemis project which will bring man back to the moon. Luca Parmitano is among the protagonists of the next mission. We also want to develop new ideas of scientific and industrial collaboration, new solutions, new concrete projects with Canada, France, Germany, Argentina, China, Japan, India, United Arab Emirates and Kenya", he added, underlining that "we take our vision around the world in all contexts, including at the United Nations with the Italian Presidency of the United Nations Committee for the Pacific Use of Outer Space for the two-year period 2026-2027". "Space and the defense of national security is a topic on which we cannot fail to be protagonists", underlined the head of the Farnesina, adding that on 15 December Italy will host the Agency's intermediate ministerial conference. European Space Agency.
«Last May - the head of the Farnesina recalled - we also adopted a real national space strategy. We now have all the tools to support this sector. The aerospace supply chain is a flagship of our industry. It generates more than 21 billion in revenue. Over 80% of this industrial base is made up of small and medium-sized businesses that we want to support with every means. All our territories make a crucial contribution to this excellence. We have 15 districts that cover the entire national territory. In Lazio, for example, the supply chain has 360 companies, 23,500 employees and a turnover of 5 billion euros. The districts also play an essential role in connecting large industrial groups, small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups, universities and research centers to integrate our companies into global categories of value." Tajani then recalled the importance of exports also in this area where «in Italy it represents almost 40% of the GDP and we are the fourth largest commercial power in the world. Exports are going well and continue to grow: we reached the record of 643 billion last year and this year we grew by 5.8% in non-European markets. In particular, exports in the space sector have reached around 8 billion".
As regards aerospace, Italy has a consolidated industrial and scientific supply chain, with expertise in the construction of satellites and launchers, telecommunications and Earth observation. The system includes large groups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, universities and research centers. According to the mapping of the National Aerospace Technological Cluster (CTNA) and Confindustria, in 2024 the turnover of the Italian space supply chain reached 3.1 billion euros, up 63% compared to 2021. Employees went from around 5,900 to 8,900, with an increase of 51%. The mapping includes 38 large companies, 220 SMEs, 18 startups, 38 research institutions and 24 universities, attributable to 15 industrial districts. Around 80% of the industrial base is made up of SMEs, and research and development is worth 5% of turnover. A different survey by Istat and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), referring to a broader perimeter of the space economy, estimates a production of around 8 billion euros, an added value of 2 billion and over 23,000 people employed.
