Celebrating eight centuries of science, technology, the humanities, art, and innovation, the conference aims to bring together distinguished scholars to celebrate the immense scientific legacy of the past 800 years, which has paved the way for future achievements in space exploration. In addition to presenting the complexity and risks of space travel, the conference underlines the impact of space research in everyday life and the progress humans have made towards exploring deep space for better living conditions and a more comfortable work environment. 

Various sessions of the conference discuss astronomy, astrophysics, and geodesy. Other sessions deal with living accommodations in space and examines a range of subjects from biomedicine to nutrition, psychology to political interactions between nations, and private consortia. The event includes guest speakers, Bernard Foing (ILEAWG & EuroMoonMars), David Williams (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), Jacques Arnould (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales – CNES).

On September 7 the conference is open to the public. In the morning sessions, the Aula Magna at palazzo Bo hosts the opening ceremony, with the rector of the University of Padua, Daniela Mapelli, the President of Italian Space Agency (ASI), Giorgio Saccoccia, and the President of Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF), Marco Tavani. In the afternoon, speakers talks about science, technology and innovation in Space.
Registration: morning and afternoon sessions

In the evening, at 9 pm, the Sala dei Giganti hosts a public conference of astronauts, with Telmo Pievani (University of Padua), the director of the Astronomic Observatory in Padua, professor of Astrophysics, Roberto Ragazzoni, and the astronaut Maurizio Cheli, the first Italian Mission Specialist in the STS–75 Tethered Satellite Mission on the Columbia Space Shuttle. A video connection with Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano at the NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, is planned.

The Biosuit, a new space suit designed by Dainese, will be on display in the Cortile Antico.

Registration for the public conference of astronauts is CLOSED.
You can also watch the event on livestream.

The conference is jointly organized by the scientific technical committee chaired by Sofia Pavanello, Unipd professor, together with CISAS Giuseppe Colombo Center for Space Studies and Activities, the INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua,  EuroMoonMars initiative, and several University of Padua departments, is part of the program of celebratory events for the 800th anniversary of the University of Padua.

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Poster