A new ITS campus for Mechatronics and Aerospace opened on Corso Svizzera in the Pier della Francesca complex in Turin to host courses in automation, robotics, and aerospace.

Fondazione ITS per la Mobilità Sostenibile – Aerospazio/Meccatronica operates as a system hub connecting companies, educational institutions, innovation hubs, and research centers in the Piedmont region.

The expansion at Corso Svizzera complements and does not replace the historic ITS headquarters on Via Braccini in Turin managed by the Metropolitan City of Turin.

Fondazione ITS evolved from starting with a few classes to training hundreds of students each year with very high employment placement rates.

Atmos Space Cargo is a European space logistics company developing reusable return systems.

PHOENIX 2 combines orbital payload operations in Low Earth Orbit with controlled de-orbit, atmospheric re-entry, and recovery.

UARX Space will supply its SAU&RON 24-inch separation system for Atmos Space Cargo’s PHOENIX 2 orbital transfer and return vehicle (OTRV).

PHOENIX 2 is a reusable orbital transfer and return vehicle developed as part of Atmos Space Cargo’s end-to-end space logistics architecture.

UARX Space will provide technical support during PHOENIX 2’s vehicle integration campaign ahead of its upcoming free-flyer mission in Low Earth Orbit.

The launch of PHOENIX 2 is scheduled for the second half of 2026.

SAU&RON has significant flight heritage and is cataloged and qualified for use on most of the world’s leading launch vehicles.

Dr. Andrés Villa Granata is Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder at UARX Space.

UARX Space developed the SAU&RON family of spacecraft separation systems under demanding industry standards.

UARX Space and Atmos Space Cargo have signed a contract for separation systems and integration support.

Reliable and predictable separation is a prerequisite for any controlled re-entry mission.

Atmos Space Cargo will conduct launch integration, orbital operations, telemetry and command, autonomous de-orbit, atmospheric re-entry, and recovery operations in a designated area near Santa Maria Island in the Azores, Portugal.

Dr. Christian Grimm is Lead Systems Engineer and Co-Founder at Atmos Space Cargo.

National aviation authorities and international bodies are establishing regulatory frameworks that balance safety imperatives with commercial flexibility for experimental spacecraft categories.

Mid-altitude space tourism profiles use rocket-powered ascent phases to deliver higher apogees and extended microgravity durations.

Reusable launch vehicle systems are fundamentally altering the economic equation of human spaceflight by distributing development expenses across multiple missions.

Governments worldwide are implementing policy initiatives that encourage domestic space tourism industry development and support international standards harmonization.

Valuates Reports estimates the global space tourism market was worth $1.4 billion in 2024 and will reach $3.9 billion by 2031 with a compound annual growth rate of 16.3% during the forecast period.

Strategic partnerships between aerospace manufacturers and hospitality brands are creating integrated tourism ecosystems for space travelers.

Purpose-built spaceports are transitioning from conceptual proposals to operational facilities with passenger processing, mission control, and regulatory compliance infrastructure tailored for commercial human spaceflight.

Media coverage and successful commercial flights have generated widespread public interest and aspirational demand for space tourism.

Lower-altitude space tourism experiences use aircraft-based platforms to provide weightlessness intervals and curvature visualization with reduced training and physiological demands.

Training facilities for space tourism participants are emerging to provide physiological preparation and simulation experiences.

The overview effect is a cognitive shift experienced by people viewing Earth from space that serves as a distinctive value proposition for space tourism.

Government space commercialization policies and streamlined licensing frameworks are enabling private sector participation in space tourism globally.

Ultra-high-net-worth individuals are driving demand for exclusive experiential luxury space tourism offerings.

Hospitality integration near launch sites is developing to offer specialized accommodation and immersive pre-flight experiences that extend revenue opportunities beyond flights.

Accessible pricing tiers in space tourism are focusing on operational efficiency and passenger throughput using spacecraft configurations that maximize capacity while maintaining safety.

Propulsion innovations, composite material engineering, and autonomous flight control systems have collectively enhanced spacecraft reliability and compressed turnaround times between missions.

Progressive licensing regimes now accommodate experimental spacecraft while maintaining standards for passenger protection, crew qualification, and environmental considerations.

Emerging spaceport infrastructure development is occurring across multiple continents to facilitate operational scalability for space tourism.

Insurance providers, medical specialists, and content production companies are participating in the space tourism ecosystem to support operational professionalism and customer services.

Advanced spacecraft safety systems are enhancing consumer confidence through improved reliability protocols for commercial human spaceflight.

Corporate partnerships are combining aerospace engineering capabilities with hospitality service delivery to create end-to-end space tourism offerings.

Reusable rocket technology is reducing launch costs and improving mission frequency capabilities for space tourism operators.

Premium space tourism offerings target ultra-luxury customers with bespoke customization, extended mission durations, and enhanced comfort amenities.

Extended-duration space tourism missions offer sustained orbital presence, prolonged weightlessness exposure, comprehensive Earth observation, and potential accommodation aboard dedicated facilities.

The UK Space Agency was folded into the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology last fall.

The UK Science and Technology Facilities Council needs to cut £162 million (€187 million) in spending by FY2029-30 to align with a new outcome-focused approach to R&D funding.

UK astronomy, physics, and nuclear researchers are likely to bear the brunt of the STFC austerity measures.

The UK Space Agency received a funding boost for the rest of the decade after folding into DSIT.

STFC Executive Chair Michele Dougherty wrote that the planned cuts would build on last year’s 15% reduction in new grants.

STFC expects future spending to be around 70% of FY2024-25 levels.

Robert Massey stated that disparate science initiatives are competing against one another for parts of a single overarching UKRI budget.

Royal Astronomical Society Executive Director Robert Massey warned that the STFC cuts could force postdoctoral researchers out of academia and could close entire academic departments.

Within DSIT, research targeting space applications competes for funds with clean energy, life sciences, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing programs.