Providing information on climate change, deforestation, sea and ocean temperatures, identifying fires and illegal landfills, and monitoring critical infrastructure. This is the potential of the technologies produced at Leonardo’s site near Florence, the so-called “eyes” of Space probes and satellites. These include the 26 telescopes of the “Plato” mission, used to study exoplanets, the main instrument of the “Flex” satellite, which will detect and measure the light emitted by plants as they convert sunlight and carbon dioxide, and the most powerful operational hyperspectral instrument of all time on board the ‘Prism’ mission.
The crown jewels of the factory are the attitude sensors known as “Space compasses”, which have helped and continue to help guide over 90 international missions through the universe. Fabio Brandani explains that “Leonardo’s sensors play a key role in providing precise information on the probe’s position, rotation angle, and movement.” Each sensor compares what it observes in Space with a map of around 3,000 internally memorised stars. It calculates the probe’s orientation ten times per second, providing the onboard computer with the information needed to stay on the set course.
With its commitment to innovation and skills development, Space is increasingly central to safeguarding global security and fostering the sustainability of the planet. Franco Ongaro emphasises this, highlighting Leonardo’s contribution to the development of an industrial ecosystem that serves as a national technological accelerator: “In the Space sector, we boast skills and capabilities that make us a leading player in major international missions, from Earth observation and navigation to Moon and Mars exploration.”
