Space

INFN’s fundamental physics research has always been linked to space exploration. Just think of how the first elementary particles were discovered thanks to cosmic rays and how, today, INFN is the leader of numerous satellite missions, devised to solve the big mysteries of the universe. These range from the European Space Agency mission Euclid, which seeks to discover the nature of the dark side of our universe, to AMS (the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer), which has been on the International Space Station studying antimatter for more than ten years. In addition, INFN is involved in technology research projects for developing space technologies derived from research into fundamental physics.

AMS-02 satellite (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer) for the study of cosmic rays (© NASA)

Liftoff of the Euclid mission (© ESA)

Over the years, INFN researchers and technicians have built sensors and suitabledevices for space. These include lightweight and low-consumption technologies that are able to survive in extreme environments, bearing intense vibrations and accelerations, temperature changes, and very intense radiation. Moreover, to develop and test new technologies for space, INFN has, in addition to its know-how, a network of accelerators totest the resistance of aerospace industry components and devices to cosmic radiation. In addition, optical and mechanical tools and climate chambers are available, for example, forthe space qualification of retroreflector mirrors for satellite laser tracking from Earth stations.