Special Issue: 12 Space

2 SPACE RESEARCH AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE Vanessa Ravagni interviews Roberto Battiston 4 THE LISA PATHFINDER SPACE MISSION by Stefano Vitale 6 REMOTE SENSING AND RADAR Paola Fusi interviews Lorenzo Bruzzone University of Trento periodical Trento University of June 2015 SUPPLEMENT issue 12, 5, Year no.11, Trento di Tribunale Registered as a periodical with the 22 March 2011 31 July 2008 ROC registration no.17340, SPECIAL ISSUE: 12 SPACE ISSUE 12 | YEAR 5 | JUNE 2015 SUPPLEMENT Technology and knowledge connecting university and business http://knowtransfer.unitn.it DO YOU WANT KNOWTRANSFER Technology and knowledge connecting university and business INFORMATION ABOUT University of Trento periodical Year 5, issue 12, June 2015 SUPPLEMENT FILING A Poste Italiane SpA – Postal subscription service 70% NE/TN fees paid Registered as a periodical with the Tribunale di Trento no.11, 22 March 2011 PATENT WITH THE ROC registration no.17340, 31 July 2008 Editorial office: UNIVERSITY Communication and Events Office Central Management University of Trento via Calepina 14, I-38122 Trento OF TRENTO? tel. +39 0461 281201-3228 fax +39 0461 282899 One of the objectives of the University of Trento is to encourage email: [email protected] patenting of the results of research in collaboration with businesses. http://knowtransfer.unitn.it Director: Contact the Scientific Research and Technology Transfer Division of Flavio Deflorian the University of Trento to find out about the University’s patenting Managing editor: regulations and how to file a patent in collaboration with the University. Francesca Menna Staff: http://www.unitn.it/en/ateneo/1763/technology-transfer Francesca Chistè, Marinella Daidone, Paola Fusi, Lino Giusti, Claudio Nidasio, Vanessa Ravagni, Cristiano Zanetti Contents planning: Communication and Events Office Scientific Research and Technology Transfer Division Central Management University of Trento Graphic design: Merj Morani Contributors: Roberto Battiston, Paolo Bellutta, Lorenzo Bruzzone, Mariolino De Cecco, Marco Durante, Stefano Vitale, Dino Zardi Photos: NASA-ESA-ASI, TIFPA, Paolo Bellutta, Marco Bellutta, Roberto Bernardinatti, University of Trento, Fotolia.com Printing: Publistampa Arti Grafiche Published 26 May 2015 GET YOUR KNOWTRANSFER KnowTransfer is published in print and online forms. KnowTransfer is for those involved in research, development, and scientific and technological innovation in industry, services and institutions. ¡ If you would like a free print copy through the mail, send an email to the editorial office. (knowtransfer@ unitn.it) indicating your name, surname, organization or company and address. For information: ¡ If you would like to receive an email to let you know when each new issue of the online magazine is Scientific Research and Technology Transfer Division via Calepina, 14 published, fill in the registration form on the magazine’s (first floor), I-38122 Trento website (http://knowtransfer.unitn.it) under the heading tel. +39 0461 281238 | fax +39 0461 281128 | [email protected] ‘”register”. THE FUTURA MISSION: DOING RESEARCH IN SPACE Samantha Cristoforetti on the International Space Station By the editorial staff in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency On 23 November 2014 at 22:01 (Italian time) the Soyuz The FUTURA mission has a rich program of scientific Expedition 42/43 launched. This was the start of research, using microgravity conditions to conduct FUTURA, the second long-term mission of the Italian experiments that are expected to produce benefits Space Agency (ASI), involving Samantha Cristoforetti, in terms of knowledge and technological innovation. European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut, and Captain For this mission the ASI selected and developed nine in the Italian Air Force. Italian scientific and technological research projects to Born in 1977 and brought up in Malè in Val di Sole, be undertaken during Samantha Cristoforetti’s stay on Samantha is on board the International Space Station board the Space Station, along with another project (ISS) as a Flight Engineer in the crew of the ISS 42/43 that is already underway on the Station, and has been expedition. A Captain in the Italian Air Force, with over collecting data for over three years. 500 hours of active flight time on six types of military The projects have been devised by Italian universities, 1 aircraft, for this mission Samantha trained in the use of research institutes, large companies and SMEs. the ISS systems and the Russian Soyuz space shuttle, in Five projects focus on various aspects of human robotics and in extra-vehicular activities, at the various physiology in conditions of weightlessness, and two training centers in the United States, Russia, Canada will carry out biological analyses of cell samples in and Japan. Her travel companions on the Soyuz are the microgravity. The astronauts on board will also test a American Terry Virts and the Russian Anton Shkaplerov. demonstrator for an automatic manufacturing process The FUTURA mission, assigned to the ASI by NASA, for the realization of 3D objects in zero gravity (3D is the fruit of a collaboration between the ASI and printing), and a multifunction capsule machine for hot ESA. It is the first mission for Samantha Cristoforetti, drinks, including real Italian espresso coffee. who has become the first Italian woman in space,and the seventh Italian astronaut to go into space, following Franco Malerba, Umberto Guidoni, Maurizio Cheli, Roberto Vittori, Paolo Nespoli and Luca Parmitano. An astronaut, a researcher, and always willing to interact with space enthusiasts (on Twitter, as @AstroSamantha, and on the website Avamposto42), Samantha has become “the girl next door” who talks to us from space. But we should not forget that she is also a researcher in an exceptional scientific laboratory, the Space Station. FOR MORE INFORMATION The experiments on the International Space Station http://www.asi.it/it/news/gli_esperimenti_di_samantha Vanessa Ravagni is head of the Scientific Research and Technology Transfer Division of the University of Trento SPACE RESEARCH TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE From the European Mars missions to the space economy to technology transfer from space to Earth and from Earth to space. We talk with the president of the Italian Space Agency. Vanessa Ravagni interviews Roberto Battiston, President of the Italian Space Agency. President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) since Professor Battiston, space research seems to be going May 2014, Roberto Battison has for many years been through a renaissance; it seems that everyone wants involved in research in astrophysics and the physics of to invest in this field. Can you explain why this is? elementary particles in space. He is a full professor in 2 An incredible number of things in our everyday lives the Department of Physics at the University of Trento, depend on space: telecommunications, monitoring was formerly president of the Astroparticle Physics of the atmosphere and of the earth, and emergency Commission of the Italian National Institute of Nuclear management, just to name a few. Space is a synonym for Physics (INFN), and was one of the people behind the progress, for improving the quality of life. Not investing in establishment of the Trento Institute for Fundamental space means not believing in the future. Physics and Applications (TIFPA). As president of the ASI, can you tell us what Italy’s role is within international space research? Italy plays a fundamental role in the international space scene as the third contributor to ESA (the European Space Agency), after France and Germany, and before Britain. In addition, it has close collaborative relationships with NASA and with emerging space programs, such as that of China. What are the main projects that the Italian Space Agency is working on? The ASI is involved in scientific research with the instrumentation that ESA launches into space, both to observe the Universe and to observe the Earth. These are programs that often last more than ten years, but that allow us to go beyond the current limits of our knowledge in sectors from astrophysics to planetology, cosmology, or the study of planetary systems belonging to other stars. The recent Ministerial Council meeting in December Do you think there are real opportunities for researchers 2014 approved three large projects in which Italy plays and companies to engage in technology transfer in an important role: the new European launchers, including this sector? the Italian-made Vega-C; the extension of the Space There is no doubt that space is a great opportunity 3 Station to 2020; and the completion of two European for both research and business, both to develop the missions that will land on Mars, the ExoMars project. ‘space economy’ and to transfer to/from space those Can the research carried out for space exploration technologies that are useful for everyday life. An example also have applications on Earth? Can it improve the of transfer from Earth to space is 3D printer technology, quality of our lives? which could revolutionize the building of structures in Space touches our daily lives in ways that we often space or on other planets. In contrast, an example of don’t even notice: satellite navigation is in everyday use, transfer of technology from space to Earth concerns weather forecasts are increasingly accurate, and satellite techniques for treating diseases such as osteoporosis, observations of Earth offer countless applications, through particular medicines and types of exercise. from protection against landslides to border controls, from supporting civil defense in emergency situations to the management of agricultural land. The study of climate change at both local and global levels would not be possible without satellite observations. All this contributes to improving the quality of life, helping us to manage and to mitigate the impact of humans on the planet. FOR MORE INFORMATION Italian Space Agency http://www.asi.it/ LISTENING TO THE UNIVERSE THROUGH GRAVITATIONAL WAVES The University of Trento’s contribution to the LISA Pathfinder space mission. Launch date set for October 2.

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