We all know it, yet we rarely if ever think about it; today, much of our daily life depends on the sky. Television programmes, multimedia services, data sharing or archiving, as well as car, truck, plane, train and ship navigation systems – all platforms that have reached the standards we have grown accustomed to, thanks to satellite systems.

Any suspension of satellite activities, even if only partial, would have major repercussions on national security, public utilities and, in general, the lives of all citizens.

To ensure the continuity of these services across Italy during the Covid-19 emergency, Leonardo has put in place number of measures designed to help protect staff from subsidiary Telespazio, without penalising the crucial infrastructures indispensable for ensuring our safety and keeping the country running as smoothly as possible.

These new measures along with the sense of responsibility and commitment of the Telespazio employees, have managed to keep the Fucino Space Centre fully operational 24/7. In order to adhere to social distancing rules, the Company has defined segregated areas with access limited to key personnel, while interchangeable work teams have been identified and trained, to ensure the maximum safety of personnel and efficient general management.

The Italian Army’s IX° Alpini dell’Aquila Regiment has played a crucial role in facilitating the ongoing activities in Fucino, setting up a camp with seven heated tents within the Space Centre. These provide overnight accommodation for Telespazio’s specialist teams who manage the operations of the Galileo Control Centre – the European satellite system that reliably delivers highly precise satellite navigation and localisation services to users all over the world.

The camp also provides the equipment required to prepare and distribute hot meals in accordance with safety standards. Additionally, the Army’s cooperation continues to be significant in ensuring the logistic support required to guarantee the Space Centre remains functional, throughout the ongoing pandemic.

It is important to underline that these were effectively supported by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, which, thanks to the new governance of the space industry, is able to act quickly in support of the key Italian companies.

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