Space is not only about research but also, and above all, about industry: from the manufacture of satellites and orbiting infrastructures to the management of satellite services, propulsion and launch systems. Franco Ongaro, Leonardo’s Chief Space Business Officer, discussed this in an interview with Emilio Cozzi in the first episode of Countdown, the new Sky TG24 programme dedicated to Space.
The main trends to focus on for technological growth in Space are geoinformation, artificial intelligence, in-orbit electronics, and in-orbit servicing.
As Franco Ongaro explains, “Planet knowledge and forecasting the possible changes affecting society are essential. Using technologies such as AI and in-orbit electronics will further accelerate our predictive capabilities, also with the help of the davinci-1 supercomputer, leading to the creation of the Earth’s digital twin. The growth of in-orbit servicing to foster space sustainability will also be crucial.”
During the interview, Ongaro underlines that “Italy is a leading player in Space because of its excellent industrial capabilities and its assets currently in orbit. These include the COSMO-Skymed constellation, the IRIDE constellation currently under development, and the VEGA launcher.”