The Center for Aerospace Research

at Sapienza University of Rome -CRAS-

Prof. Marcello Onofri

Director of CRAS Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

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THE ITALIAN ACTIVITY ON SPACE HAS STRONG LINKS

TO THE SPACE ACTIVITY AT SAPIENZA UNIVERSITY• ON 1964 THE ITALIAN SPACE ACTIVITY STARTED WITH THE FIRST LAUNCH OF A

EUROPEAN SCIENTIFIC SATELLITE FULLY DESIGNED, BUILT AND MANAGED BY ATEAM OF SAPIENZA UNIVERSITY.

• THE TEAM LED BY PROF. LUIGI BROGLIO PERFORMED FIVE SUCCESSFUL LAUNCHESAND BECAME WORLD FAMOUS TO BE THE THIRD, AFTER URSS AND USA, TO SHOW ACAPACITY TO HANDLE LAUNCH ACTIVITY, AND PUT SCIENTIFIC SATELLITES IN ORBIT.

• SINCE THAT TIME, SAPIENZA UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN PROVIDING MANYCONTRIBUTIONS TO INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS AND TO THE DESIGN OF NEWLAUNCHERS AND OF NEW LAUNCH SITE.

The 60’s: The Team of the

S. Marco Project 15 December 1964

The Heritage of the San Marco ProjectDuring the 80’ also the Italian Industry entered in the space activityScientific research and national industry started collaborating ininternational programs that yielded a multiply effect in their grow.

1980: Sapienza activated the five year Degree in Aerospace Engineering (today1400 studenti + 3 Professional Masters + 1 PhD Program).

Page 3 50 anni dal

lancio del

San Marco 1

The scientific activity passedfrom the initial small group ofprofessors led by Luigi Broglio,and then by Ugo Ponzi, to anactivity linked to the developmentof national industrial capabilities,with participation to importantInternational Programs:SAR technology for EO, Programslike Cassini-Huygens, Mars Express,VEGA.

DICEMBRE 2014

1988: the Italian Space Agency ASI was established with an

important role played by Carlo Buongiorno, first DG of ASI and

visionary inspirator of some of the major space programs in

those years

Many researchers of CRAS-Sapienza were Principal Investigators in

International Space Programs during 80’ and 90’

This is the result of a historical integration betwn University and industry

SAR radar development which supports the CosmoSkyMed Program, the most advanced international application of dual technology for earth observation programs, led by T. Bucciarelli andP.F. Lombardo

Mars Exploration, with the group created by G. Picardi and R. Seu, which first discovered trace of water under the Mars surface

Cassini and Titano missions with the group led by L. Iess

Astrophysics studies and Stratospheric Balloons projects by P. DeBernardis and S. Masiteam

VEGA, Solid Rocket Motor ESA Program in which prof M. DiGiacinto and B. Favini gave contributions highly recognized internationally

Liquid Rocket Engines based on LOx-Methane propellants, with the group led by M. Onofri, F. Nasuti and M. Valorani

Materials and Smart Structure Studies, with the groups led by T. Valente and by P. Gaudenzi

The support to the ESA IXV Re-entry vehicle Project by the group led by M. Onofri and R. Paciorri

The robotic and artificial intelligence applications performed by the groups of D. Nardi, F. Pirri and S. Monaco

The Earth Observation applications led by M. Pierdicca, F. Marzano, M. Marsella

DIS-A. Ruberti is widely recognized as one of the most important Dept in Informatics

60th session

UN

COPUOS,

Vienna, 9

June 2017

11/10/2017Meeting CRAS – Caltech – NASA JPL, Pasadena Page 5/6

Aerospace Research Center of Sapienza

(CRAS) at University of Rome

CRAS was extablished In June 2008, gathering theprofessors of Sapienza involved in aerospace researchand working in different Faculties or Departments:

– Physics

– Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering

– Information and Communication Science and Technique

– Computer Science and Systemics

– Electronic Engineering

– Electrical Engineering

– Experimental Medical school

– Chemistry

– Chemical, Materials, Raw materials and Metallurgical Engineering

– Hydraulics, Transport Engineering

CRAS: the aerospace research center at Sapienza

F. Nasuti CASC-CRAS Collaboration in Propulsion

ITALY-CHINA Innovation Forum

Napoli – October 27, 2016

Deep Space Observation and Fundamental Physics

Astrophysics, cosmology, unmanned solar system exploration, …

Earth Observation and Earth Science

Telecommunication and Navigation

navigation, telecommunications meteorology, safety, …

Access to SpaceSpace Launchers and

Re-entry vehicles

Human activities in Space

medicine, biotechnologies, microgravity, …

Space Vehicle Technologysatellites, orbiting platforms, electronics, robotics, thermal

control, …

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Novembre 2011CRAS Sapienza Page 7/6

In the 60’s the Italian successful San Marco Project was based on activities focused on:

The Launcher: A SCOUT launchers wasavailable thanks to the support of the USA.It was based on solid propulsion

The Ground Base: Thanks to an idea of

Prof. Buongiorno, the Sapienza team built the

first launch oceanic platform : The San Marco

Base in Malindi (Kenya)

The satellites were mini satellites namedSan Marco Satellites

September 2017CRAS Sapienza Page 8/6

In fact in the now-days the major activities include:

- Access to LEO Orbits by VEGA, a solid

propulsion launcher.

- Ground Base based on a mobile gantry to

fit the VEGA launcher needs.

- Satellites built for Earth Observation and

Communication at LEO-MEO

- Space vehicles to operate and re-

entry from LEO: successful test of the lifting

body IXV yielded recent studies for its evolution

SPACE RIDER, able to fit as VEGA paylod, take

few hundred kilos to LEO and to fly back similar

weight to Earth.

The above heritage has strongly influenced the Italian space activity

which has been continuously developing in time with an integrated

participation of Industry and Research to many International Projects.

CRAS Sapienza

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The unique success of the Vega first 10 flights is

the Success of the Italian Technology and Scientific Capability

The VEGA PROJECT is the paradigm of a proper chain

between Industry and Academia

UniversityContributions by Research:

• Propulsion and analysis of transient behaviors of combustion chambers,

• Design of composite material structures and nozzles.

• New tools for design• High level analysis of anomalies

Contributions by Education Programs:Master for graduate in STS

Industry• Development of edge technology

(like filament winding case…)• Management of complex systems• Independent technical

competence• Increased capability to interact

with international industrial partners

• Access to new Funds/Programs

The Vega Program represents a major result for the Italian industrial andscientific space sector:• Industry expanded its capability from manufacturing to the managing of

complex systems• To be market competitive the launcher had to show a very wedge technology• Scientific institutions have received motivation and opportunities to increase

the knowledge in applied physics and technological aspects

September 2017CRAS Sapienza

The Present Italian main interest in Space Programs is

ACCESS TO LEO ORBIT and LEO-MEO SATELLITE

APPLICATIONS

Also interplanetary EXPLORATIONS PROGRAMS in

collaboration with NASA and ESA have started based on

capability in radars, electronics, sensors and robotics

The Sapienza scientific research supports the

industrial applications such that it can be

recognized that University of Rome is a sort of

visible front of the Italian industrial space

activities, creating a successful example of

production chain.

Typical cultural and scientific co-operation

agreement signed by Sapienza University

Forms of cooperation– Exchange of personnel

– Joint implementation of research projects

– Exchange of documentation, scientific information and publications

– Interaction through meeting and seminars

– Development of common research projects

– Expertise in aerospace and engineering of both parties might be used in support international aerospace programs and projects

– Training and education opportunities might be used to increase the competences of their own scientists, research fellows and young graduates

F. Nasuti CASC-CRAS Collaboration in Propulsion

ITALY-CHINA Innovation Forum

Napoli – October 27, 2016

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Novembre 2011CRAS Sapienza Page 12/6

The 60’s: The Sea Launch Platform of the S. Marco Project

The management and responsibility of the Malindi Base passed to ASI ten

years ago, although SAPIENZA is still the oner, with an agreement for his use