Taranto-Grottaglie spaceport. The new face at MAM 2024 has been revealed. Emiliano, Delli Noci and Vasile: “Promise kept”
Date:
22/03/2024
Spotlight on the Spaceport project. It was the third and final day of Mam 2024 to reveal the face of the Grottaglie Spaceport. In a video lasting just over 2 minutes, Aeroporti di Puglia presented the project of the only Italian Spaceport, created by a ATI led by Adr Engineering which, from the stage, illustrated the details of the work after the president himself of the Puglia Region, Michele Emiliano speaking remotely, said he was "deeply impressed" by the project.
“For us, Spaceport – he declared in his speech – is a promise kept. When the Puglia Region committed itself to the project, not many people believed in it. From this point of view, we were the pioneers. We can only thank Enac for the extraordinary work it has done together with Aeroporti di Puglia, which were also essential. The multifunctional building – he continued – extends over an area of eight thousand square metres, with a hangar that can accommodate even the largest aircraft. The color of this important architectural sign, then, combines extraordinarily with the green of the olive trees."
And in fact the project for the Grottaglie Spaceport incorporates various influences and key concepts.
Firstly, the compositional and architectural language is inspired by the world of space exploration, with particular attention to space stations and vehicles. This stylistic choice is evident in the way in which the 8,000m2 hangar and the 5,000m2 multifunctional service center interact, creating a harmonious integration within the Spazioporto complex.
The predominant color chosen for the Spaceport is Copper Metallic (metallic copper). This choice not only recalls the materials and colors typical of spatial architecture, but also reflects the tones of the Taranto and Puglia earth, thus providing a visual link with the context. This color also has a strong personality that makes it distinctive and easily recognisable, increasing the communication potential of the project at an international level, especially considering the competition with other world-famous space centres. The general layout of the project was designed offering an emotional progression of spaces in sequence.
- The Hangar is a large structure, enclosed by an external shell of parametric matrix geometry with a reticular steel structure studied and developed through parametric calculation. The volume, as a whole, extends over a surface area of approximately 8,000 m2, suitable for accommodating an aircraft of the caliber of the Boeing 747-8. In front of this structure, there is the large aircraft apron, which occupies a total area of approximately 4,800 m2, paved with concrete slabs measuring 6mx6m. The metal structures were sized with the most high-performance parametric structural calculation software which allowed significant optimization of the main elements.
- The multipurpose building – ( visitor center) instead houses a museum , a research center and a start-up incubator . Visitors arrive from the central axis of the car park, which, crossing a series of photovoltaic totems, guides them towards the centre's entrance. The main façade of the center is characterized by a metal wall, inclined and curved, whose only opening marks the entrance, thus hiding the internal functions until the entrance to the multifunctional centre.
Once through the central portal, guests are welcomed by a double-height space, which through the large glass window at the back offers a panoramic view of the apron with the shuttles and aircraft.
From the atrium, the route continues with a climb to the upper floor, where the introductory exhibition space for orbital exploration is located. This space is designed to accommodate both departing space travelers and friends and visitors interested in space exploration and missions to Earth orbit.
- The tunnel connecting the service center and the hangar represents another distinctive element of the project. Seen from the outside, this structure is a strong sign that integrates perfectly into the language of space exploration, contributing to the overall identity of the Spaceport. Inside, the tunnel continues the initiatory and emotional journey for visitors: through a long climb, guests are immersed in an evocative atmosphere, accompanied by immersive films and sounds that prepare them for the next experience.
This path leads them to an observatory terrace inside the hangar, where large portholes inspired by aeronautical shapes allow visitors to admire the spaceships and aircraft inside the hangar itself.
Leed Gold and Silver certification for the service center and hangar respectively in a pre-evaluation.
A project that deserved the applause of Air Force General Roberto Vittori, ESA astronaut . “It was I who pushed for the initial agreement between ENAC and FAA in 2014 – explained Vittori – the idea was born when I was flying with the Shuttle and, evaluating the first emergency landing opportunity, we thought of Europe , to France and Spain. I asked myself: why not Italy, where we have the best climatic and geographical conditions? We had to overcome this obstacle and have a spaceport in our country, which could also be something else. Grottaglie has proven to be the best choice - he reiterated - because local authorities and universities have done their part, understanding the potential of suborbital flight, which is different from space flight and is the natural evolution of aeronautics: flying from Bari to Tokyo in an hour and a half, or taking off from here, launching a satellite and landing again, this is the future and this is why we are here.”
“I thank all those who contributed to making this dream a reality – declared the president of Aeroporti di Puglia, Antonio Maria Vasile . Together we are transforming the future, through an ambitious project that marks a significant step forward on our path to exploration and discovery in space. The Spaceport is not just a technological infrastructure, but the symbol of our commitment to new challenges and new opportunities that the sector has to offer. The Spaceport was born as a crossroads for innovation, scientific research and technological development, as well as a hub for international cooperation in space. The Spaceport – he concluded – will be our door to a universe of infinite possibilities”.
“I am honored to be here – said Chelsea Chang , vice president of Commercial and Corporate Strategy Virgin Galactic – and to share with you how Virgin is ushering in a new space age. We are linked to Italy and what we heard here today inspired us for our future projects."
“We are closing this edition of Mam – declared the Councilor for Economic Development of the Puglia Region, Alessandro Delli Noci – certain that we have demonstrated that that dream of aerospace, which began a few years ago, is now a consolidated reality. This is demonstrated by the numbers of the constantly growing supply chain, by the strength of the Apulian innovation ecosystem which sees constant collaboration between the public sector and the private sector, by the number of startups active in the sector whose start-up and development is supported by the Puglia Region. scale up through investment funds. But above all the structure that hosts us says it, and which today presents its spaceport project, the first Italian spaceport from which the space vectors of the future will be able to take off horizontally. A great opportunity for the territory, because these operations offer a vast range of innovative services, both civil and military, also capable of activating a significant economic and industrial spin-off in the aerospace sector.
Suborbital flights will allow applications of military interest, microgravity testing, astronaut training. A real structure, a concrete project under construction which is fully part of a national strategy that will allow Italy to become a new "launch state".
The director of Technological Innovation of Enac , Giovanni Di Antonio , briefly retraced the stages that have marked the development of the technical-regulatory regulation relating to spaceports and suborbital flight. “ Enac has had an active role – declared Di Antonio – since the signing of a memorandum with the FAA in 2014, which was then renewed with the involvement of ASI in 2016. The objective was and remains that of creating the conditions so that Grottaglie is home to suborbital flights, in a national system that integrates the fragmented European framework. Precisely in this sense, the important fact is that these topics will be of interest so that international cooperation guarantees an efficient use of airspace for suborbital commercial transport. This evolution will not only complement the traditional space economy, but will prepare the entire sector for the challenges to come.”
Francesco Cupertino , participated, continued in the afternoon with "Space Trends powered by Wired", in which the new scientific and technological challenges, the evolution of the players of sector, of the transformations of the space business. A real "schedule within the Mam schedule", conceived and created by the Conde ' Nast group newspaper . With six panels and exceptional guests, Space Trends powered by Wired will delve into the hottest topics on the space and space economy front, bringing the point of view of industrial sector leaders and solid know-how how from space agency experts to understand what will happen in the coming years. Among the protagonists of Space Trends powered by Wired, Jim Bridenstine , former NASA director (2018-2021); Roberto Vittori , officer of the Italian Air Force and ESA astronaut ; Anna Hazlett , founder & principal , AzurX ; Chiara Pertosa , CEO Sitael ; Fabio Caramelli , space rider system payload an exploitation manager European Space Agency -ESA ; Raphaël Chevrier , head of communications , MaiaSpace ; Simona Turco , head of business development , Deep Blue.
Thus ended the second edition of the Mediterranean Aerospace Matching 2024, event promoted by the Puglia Region and Enac (National Civil Aviation Authority) with the organization of AdP (Puglia Airports), Dta scarl (Aerospace Technological District) and Criptaliae Spaceport , and the collaboration of Puglia Sviluppo and Arti Puglia .
Video link - Grottaglie Spaceport Project