Italy is participating thanks to an important cooperative effort between the Italian Space Agency, Italian industry and the many small and medium-sized companies involved in this ambitious international program.

The Artemis-1 mission, scheduled for launch on Aug. 29, will see the giant U.S. Space Launch System (SLS-1) carry the Orion capsule around the Moon for the first time without humans on board. Italy is involved in the U.S. program through the important contribution of its industry, starting with Leonardo and Thales Alenia Space, which have manufactured some components of Orion's European Service Module (ESM), produced on behalf of the European Space Agency. These are key elements for the future development of the habitation module that will enable crews to undertake future space travel.

The Italian Space Agency's Argomoon cubesat, made by Argotec of Turin, Italy, will also fly on Artemis-1. The only European satellite that will go into lunar orbit. A space observer that will film from the outside the technologies that will fly on SLS-1.

And SLS-1 will leave with another special cargo: images, songs and poems inspired by the Moon, sent by schools, hospitals and Italian citizens. An initiative conceived by the Italian Space Agency, to bring around the Moon the thoughts and creativity of those who look to space as a source of inspiration, peace and beauty.

Italy's membership in the Artemis lunar program, among the largest and most inclusive human endeavors, represents the start of a new era of human conquest of space. Artemis-1 will lead the way for future missions of the program that will bring humans and for the first time a woman back to lunar soil.