Spatial sustainability, the Italian Embassy in Brasilia leads the international debate

An Earth orbit increasingly crowded with commercial satellites and debris and the need to preserve it for future generations: these were the themes at the center of "Safe Orbits, Sustainable Futures: Italy's Vision", the event that the Italian Embassy in Brasilia hosted last November 4th in its headquarters, in the framework of the 8th Summit on Space Sustainability and the Italian presidency of Copuos, the United Nations Committee on the peaceful use of space extra-atmospheric.

The initiative was promoted and hosted by the Italian Embassy, ​​which organized it in collaboration with the Agência Espacial Brasileira (Aeb) and the Secure World Foundation (Swf), organizers of the Summit. The Embassy thus offered a qualified dialogue platform to present Italian technologies in the management of space objects and debris and strengthen our country's commitment to the United Nations in favor of a peaceful, safe and sustainable use of space.

The meeting also celebrated National Space Day 2026 in Brasilia.

Speakers at the opening were Alberto Petrangeli, deputy head of mission of the Italian Embassy in Brasilia; Marco Florissi, Space & Aerospace Policy of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (remotely connected); Marco Antonio Chamon, president of the Agência Espacial Brasileira; and Peter Martinez, executive director of the Secure World Foundation.

The round table, moderated by Krystal Azelton, Senior Director of the Secure World Foundation, brought together representatives of the Italian and Brazilian industrial world: Marzio Laurenti, CEO of Telespazio Brasil / Latam; Francesco Sgarbossa, Sales Director - Launch Services of Avio; Luis Fellipe Alves de Oliveira, CEO of Safe on Orbit; Beatrice Ribis, Business Development Manager of Involve Space.

The discussion retraced the evolution of the orbital scenario, from the "silence" of the nineties to the current constant risk of collision, and got to the heart of operational issues: how to manage orbital traffic, what contribution the Italian experience offers in space domain awareness technologies and active debris removal, what new approaches to accessing space are possible and how space technologies can promote sustainability on Earth too.

The event, structured as an interactive round table with a question and answer session, involved approximately 200 Summit guests, as well as Brazilian stakeholders from the public and private sectors. What emerged was a shared reflection on possible synergies between Italy and Brazil to promote sustainability policies in orbit and on the ground, to protect the environment and future generations. At the centre, an ethic of environmental responsibility that unites the Earth with deep space: sustainability, it was underlined, is no longer just an ecological challenge on Earth, but an operational necessity for the future of exploration.

The evening ended with a networking cocktail, a further opportunity for exchange between operators, institutions and experts.