The goal of AM, INAF and INGV is to collaborate in the development of an autonomous operational capacity for Space Weather, with national assets, increasing synergies, skills and competences in the sector.
On 4 February, the agreement in question was signed, in separate digital form, by the President of INAF, Prof. Marco Tavani, by the President of INGV, Prof. Carlo Doglioni and by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Alberto Rosso.
The initiative, which falls within the framework of cooperation between the Armed Forces, Research Institutions, Universities and Industry, is aimed at developing an autonomous monitoring and forecasting capability for the Space Weather, useful for the country, in the framework of a rapidly evolving strategic sector at national and international level. It constitutes an opportunity for mutual growth by virtue of the sharing of experiences and the launch of joint initiatives, crucial for ensuring effective adaptation to the evolution of the space and aerospace sector.
The information relating to Space Weather phenomena is of interest to the Defense and of public utility, having such phenomena impacts on satellite systems, on navigation and communication systems, on the health of crews and passengers of high-altitude flights, on infrastructures criticism, both military and civilian. The Air Force has for some time developed an operational capacity for Space Weather within its Meteorological Service, based on the re-processing of data and information exclusively dependent on third countries. By now putting the INAF and INGV resources available on the national territory in Space Weather into a system, sharing data, products, algorithms, models and services, it will be possible to achieve the consolidation and further development of a reliable, accurate, timely national operational capacity. A truly autonomous capacity to produce information regarding the monitoring, climatology and forecasting of Space Weather phenomena and its operational maintenance.
Specifically, the collaboration agreement provides for the sharing of real-time data, products and information from observation systems , or remote sensing as well as the use of state-of-the-art algorithms, procedures and numerical models for the analysis and graphic processing of the analysis and forecast information for the Space Weather and for their operational use. As part of the collaboration, the Air Force will participate in the development of new algorithms, operating methods and procedures by exploiting its own personnel and infrastructural resources, based on the high specialization acquired in the sector, in order to continuously produce information that can be used for military or civilian and concerning the past, current and future state of the space environment, the knowledge of which is of crucial importance to operate safely in the space domain.
The INGV, on the other hand, will contribute with its consolidated experience in the acquisition and management of monitoring data and as a service provider in the field of Space Weather to large institutional users.
The Chief of General Staff SA Alberto Rosso declared: “The agreement signed today, for a joint service to the country relating to Space Weather, is part of the broader national policy of sharing the best skills and expertise in the Space sector. In fact, important results are obtained thanks to an increasingly inclusive participation between institutions, universities and research centers that pool professionalism, knowledge and resources in a process of strengthening the country system which the Air Force is proud of. to contribute through its unique skills”.
“The collaboration between the Air Force, INGV and INAF - commented Prof. Carlo Doglioni, president of INGV - it is part of the consolidated inter-institutional collaboration activity that INGV has always pursued and which constitutes the lifeblood for the fruitful exchange of information and experience, with a view to improving scientific research at the service of society. In particular, INGV is very active in research on Space Weather. For some years, in fact, it has been part of the PECASUS consortium which works for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), contributing to it with its network of ionospheric and geomagnetic observatories distributed in Italy and throughout the world and with the elaboration of monitoring and forecasting to support HF band communications and satellite navigation. Furthermore, with its Space Earth Observation Center (COS), INGV has built a structure for the planning and coordination of all activities in the Space and Aerospace sector”.
"The National Institute of Astrophysics considers the cooperation with the Air Force and INGV in the field of Space Weather to be of great importance" commented Prof. Marco Tavani, president of INAF. “The Institute is engaged in daily monitoring of solar activity with its own state-of-the-art instrumentation both from the ground and from space. The integrated information deriving from these measurements will help to have a greater awareness of solar activity and to obtain a rapid and incisive response in relation to its variability".
On 4 February, the agreement in question was signed, in separate digital form, by the President of INAF, Prof. Marco Tavani, by the President of INGV, Prof. Carlo Doglioni and by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Alberto Rosso.
The initiative, which falls within the framework of cooperation between the Armed Forces, Research Institutions, Universities and Industry, is aimed at developing an autonomous monitoring and forecasting capability for the Space Weather, useful for the country, in the framework of a rapidly evolving strategic sector at national and international level. It constitutes an opportunity for mutual growth by virtue of the sharing of experiences and the launch of joint initiatives, crucial for ensuring effective adaptation to the evolution of the space and aerospace sector.
The information relating to Space Weather phenomena is of interest to the Defense and of public utility, having such phenomena impacts on satellite systems, on navigation and communication systems, on the health of crews and passengers of high-altitude flights, on infrastructures criticism, both military and civilian. The Air Force has for some time developed an operational capacity for Space Weather within its Meteorological Service, based on the re-processing of data and information exclusively dependent on third countries. By now putting the INAF and INGV resources available on the national territory in Space Weather into a system, sharing data, products, algorithms, models and services, it will be possible to achieve the consolidation and further development of a reliable, accurate, timely national operational capacity. A truly autonomous capacity to produce information regarding the monitoring, climatology and forecasting of Space Weather phenomena and its operational maintenance.
Specifically, the collaboration agreement provides for the sharing of real-time data, products and information from observation systems , or remote sensing as well as the use of state-of-the-art algorithms, procedures and numerical models for the analysis and graphic processing of the analysis and forecast information for the Space Weather and for their operational use. As part of the collaboration, the Air Force will participate in the development of new algorithms, operating methods and procedures by exploiting its own personnel and infrastructural resources, based on the high specialization acquired in the sector, in order to continuously produce information that can be used for military or civilian and concerning the past, current and future state of the space environment, the knowledge of which is of crucial importance to operate safely in the space domain.
The INGV, on the other hand, will contribute with its consolidated experience in the acquisition and management of monitoring data and as a service provider in the field of Space Weather to large institutional users.
The Chief of General Staff SA Alberto Rosso declared: “The agreement signed today, for a joint service to the country relating to Space Weather, is part of the broader national policy of sharing the best skills and expertise in the Space sector. In fact, important results are obtained thanks to an increasingly inclusive participation between institutions, universities and research centers that pool professionalism, knowledge and resources in a process of strengthening the country system which the Air Force is proud of. to contribute through its unique skills”.
“The collaboration between the Air Force, INGV and INAF - commented Prof. Carlo Doglioni, president of INGV - it is part of the consolidated inter-institutional collaboration activity that INGV has always pursued and which constitutes the lifeblood for the fruitful exchange of information and experience, with a view to improving scientific research at the service of society. In particular, INGV is very active in research on Space Weather. For some years, in fact, it has been part of the PECASUS consortium which works for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), contributing to it with its network of ionospheric and geomagnetic observatories distributed in Italy and throughout the world and with the elaboration of monitoring and forecasting to support HF band communications and satellite navigation. Furthermore, with its Space Earth Observation Center (COS), INGV has built a structure for the planning and coordination of all activities in the Space and Aerospace sector”.
"The National Institute of Astrophysics considers the cooperation with the Air Force and INGV in the field of Space Weather to be of great importance" commented Prof. Marco Tavani, president of INAF. “The Institute is engaged in daily monitoring of solar activity with its own state-of-the-art instrumentation both from the ground and from space. The integrated information deriving from these measurements will help to have a greater awareness of solar activity and to obtain a rapid and incisive response in relation to its variability".