The Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM) proudly presented the Infinity2 Project: school into space. This is an experimental educational aerospace project carried out at Liceo Scientifico Enrico Medi in Montegiorgio, in the province of Fermo, Marche, belonging to Polo Scolastico Carlo Urbani, completely funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), under the “New skills and new languages” investment line, and developed with the scientific collaboration of Leonardo and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).
Leonardo, a global leading company in Aerospace, Defence and Security, provided students with inputs and contacts with the local supply chain to develop special glass ampoules that will contain the material being tested in flight, while ASI has supported probe design and development.
“To increase the Italian space research and economy, we need to stimulate the interest of young people in scientific university degrees and STEM subjects. The Italian Space Agency, in addition to disseminating space activities especially towards children and young people, carries out and promotes educational projects, as well as supporting advanced training courses on space issues, in collaboration with educational institutions and universities and with a fruitful dialogue with the MIM and the MUR,” said President of the Italian Space Agency, Teodoro Valente.
After the success of the Infinity1 project (funded under NOP Summer 2022), launched by the same high school and aimed at studying greenhouse gases in the stratosphere, this time Island will welcome the new mission. The project will involve 32 students from the Enrico Medi scientific high school, with 10 of them leaving to Reykjavík on 3 April for the launch into orbit of the 3 probes involved in the project. The first device will film the Aurora borealis, in order to understand this natural phenomenon as well as the dynamics of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. The second probe will carry on board a scientific experiment to measure the incidence of UVB and UVC rays on genomic traits of spirulina algae, to study its stability and safety when used in space food. The third probe will be equipped with two special capsules containing CO2, to test the potential of transforming carbon dioxide into oxygen. A process that could contribute to the sustainability of future space missions.Further details on the Infinity2 Project are available here.
