Italian astronaut to walk on the Moon

Teodoro Valente, president of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), confirmed the news in a post on X, writing that the deepening cooperation between NASA and ASI will lead to the creation of a base camp on the Moon and an Italian astronaut walking on the lunar surface. Made in Italy At the heart of the agreement is Italy's commitment to design and build habitation modules for astronauts stationed on the Moon. In a statement, Minister Urso described the deal as an important recognition for Italy and for our companies, which will be called upon to build habitation modules designed to allow a safe and prolonged presence of astronauts on the Moon. The astronauts' 'home' will be 'Made in Italy', built with Italian technologies and by Italian companies. The statement of intent signed by Urso and Isaacman provides for collaboration between Italy and the US on habitation modules, communication systems and scientific activities on the lunar surface, with the goal of establishing a stable and long-term human presence on the moon. The agreement sits within the framework of the Artemis programme, which aims to develop a sustainable lunar base under American leadership, with Italy playing a central technological role. The minister was equally clear about the timeline and location of production. This bilateral cooperation will allow us to bring an Italian astronaut to the Moon soon, in a habitation module that will be built in Italy, in Turin, Urso declared, pointing to the city's well-established aerospace industrial cluster as the engine of this endeavour. The overall objective, according to the minister, is to see it all realised within the next seven to ten years. MPH Module: Italy's first lunar outpost The centrepiece of Italy's contribution is the multi-purpose Habitation module, known as MPH. Planned for launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in 2033, the MPH module will be the first ever dedicated habitation asset on the lunar surface as part of the Artemis Accords between NASA and ASI for bilateral Moon cooperation. The MPH will safely host astronauts during their missions, support surface operations, enable scientific research both with and without a human crew, and have the capability to move across the surface. Historic partnership We will return to the Moon, and this time to stay - Urso stated - We will do so thanks to Italian technology and with an Italian astronaut on one of the next missions of the Artemis programme. The agreement reinforces a historic cooperation between Italy and the US in the space sector, which began with the San Marco programme that made Italy the third country in the world to reach space with its own launch vehicle. Urso drew a deliberate line from that heritage to the present, invoking the memory of Rocco Petrone - the Italian-American director of the Apollo programme - at a ceremony held to mark the centenary of his birth. The agreement also opens the door to the direct participation of Italian astronauts in future missions, in addition to the opportunities already provided for under NASA-ESA cooperation. ASI president Valente underscored the significance of this dual pathway, calling it a confirmation of Italy's long-term vision in the new space race.