SPACE, A “LAUNCHING PAD” SECTOR: EVERY 1 € INVESTED HAS A 3 € RETURN
ADNKRONOS: 31/07/2015
GAUDENZI, FROM SPACE SECTOR A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR LARGE AND SMALL ENTERPRISES AND FOR COUNTRY ECONOMY RETURN
If the country is still struggling to catch up, new challenges to economic return coming from the launchersspace sector, satellite data services and the production of satellite constellations that “open up great opportunities for development, employment and growth both to large companies and to small and medium-sized enterprises” of our country. Paolo Gaudenzi, Director of the Master in Satellites of Sapienza, draw with Adnkronos new scenarios of Italian industrial development, following the announcement of the new ASI mission of Italian ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli and the contract 182 million euro signed by Thales Alenia Space with ASI to continue the project of the second generation of the Cosmo-SkyMed.
The aerospace sector is a driver for the economy, demonstrated by data that evaluate "for every euro invested in space activities a return of three euro for the country and for every job in aerospace the creation of three new jobs in industry sector" highlights Gaudenzi. This has a multiplier effect “that can still improve, just think that in Britain the ratio is for every euro invested eight Euros earned”. The launcher sector has in VEGA an important burst of growth important for Italian industry, starting from the purchase, ratified last October, by Arianespace of 10 Vega launchers from Italian manufacturer ELV, for an economic value of 257 million euro . "It means about 25 million Euros to have up to three launches in year 2015 which can grow up to 4-6 launches in the following years, for the VEGA carrier”, reminds the analyst of the aerospace sector, "which already demonstrated its ability to succeed in 5 launches with the support of the Italian ELV, Avio 70% and 30% Asi". “Europe also with ESA”, reminds Gaudenzi, “is starting to strengthening VEGA. The carrier can typically launch satellites in low orbit, ie 600 to 700 kilometers in a polar orbit for earth observation, launching satellites up to 1,500 pounds but, if, due to the flexibility confirmed in the previous five launches all with different missions, VEGA also demonstrates ability to launch of multiple satellites, it could open up a major share of the market for Italy”. “In the US, in fact”, refers Gaudenzi, "industries offer dual launchers and VEGA is already partially entered the US market. Google, with the acquired SkyBox, has planned launches with Vega in 2016-2017. In short, we have opened a first game overseas. A market, the Stars and Stripes one which is also focusing on the production of satellite constellations. A market, where the Italian industry has already proven to be mature”. “I’m thinking” -remember Gaudenzi- “the former Alenia Space, now Thales Alenia Space who made constellations for TLC as Globalstar, the 44-48 satellites first generation, the 32 satellites second generation and constellations for Earth observation as Cosmo-SkyMed”. “The satellite market”, still indicates the expert of Sapienza, "he is going to produce constellations of small satellites of up to 500 pounds. And then comes the challenge for the Italian industrial system, which sees on the one hand the large enterprise as Thales Alenia Space, company also focused on the development of the payloads, on the other a system of small and medium enterprise, as the Apulian Sitael in Mola di Bari, who is bidding to play a major role in the development of small satellites. The US market is moving in this direction, too infact the tycoon Elon Musk, Space X founder, has annunciated the plan for satellite internet Space Internet Project that includes 15 billion dollars of investment for satellites in low orbit”. “It is believed” -said Guadenzi- “to up to four thousands small satellites and Italian aerospace companies, as large as small, could raise the gauntlet. But it can make more use of notes, even the sale of satellite data useful in industrial sectors that still do not exploit these potentials, where the Italian presence is strong with Telespazio and e-GEOS, Telespazio and ASI 80% 20%". "We checked it with our startup” -said Gaudenzi- “Smart Structures Solutions which counts shares of Sapienza and shares of industry Staer Systems and shares researchers who belong to my department. The startup -said- developed in two campaigns financed from Esa, a system for using satellite data together with wireless sensors to verify the safety of infrastructures, in particular of towers for television broadcasting and pylons of high voltage power lines”. "According to first-prudential assessment, this market can come as early as 10 million euro" said Guadenzi. An evaluation to be taken into account, as in the Report and Thomson Reuters, Sapienza has earned third place in the world of the most influential scientific institutions in aerospace.