Italy is preparing to make history in space exploration with the Small Mission to MarS (SMS) – the first interplanetary mission entirely conceived, designed, and built in Italy. Three major aerospace districts have joined forces for this unprecedented project: the Campania Aerospace District (DAC), the Sardinia Aerospace District (DASS), and the Emilia-Romagna Aerospace District. Together, they are leading the charge to place a bold Italian mark on the red planet.
With a total investment of €300 million, SMS is set to become a flagship of Italy’s rising space economy. It aims to prove that Italy is not just a supporting actor but a key player in global space exploration. The mission will be launched aboard the Vega rocket, a European launch vehicle developed with strong Italian participation, known for its reliability. But the real challenge lies beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
Once it reaches Martian orbit, the probe will release a satellite designed to orbit Phobos, one of Mars’ mysterious moons. From there, the heart of the mission will unfold: three advanced payloads will land on the Martian surface. The first is a dust detector, engineered to analyze soil composition and provide crucial geological data. The second is a high-tech atmospheric drone, capable of low-altitude flights to capture close-up images and data of Martian terrain—canyons, dunes, and craters—from a bird’s eye view. The third, and perhaps most visionary payload, will test on-site space manufacturing, producing “Martian bricks” using local materials. The goal? Build shelters, labs, and future human habitats without the need to transport construction materials from Earth.
“This mission,” explains Luigi Carrino, president of DAC, “is a manifesto of Italy’s capacity to create innovation through cooperation. Companies, universities, and research centers are working in a virtuous ecosystem that places human capital and scientific knowledge at its core.”
The in-situ production technology comes from a patented process developed by Professor Giacomo Cao, now leading the DASS. Initially designed under the Italian Space Agency, the project has been further developed with support from the Italian Ministry of University and Research through the Space Manufacturing in Situ program.
One of the most technically demanding aspects of the mission is the landing system. That responsibility lies with ALI SpA (Aerospace Laboratory for Innovative components), a historic Naples-based company and founding member of DAC. Recognized globally for its space re-entry systems, ALI has designed an innovative descent mechanism. “The landing system,” says Norberto Salza, ALI’s CEO, “combines a deployable aerobrake with a parafoil, enabling a soft and precise landing, even in Mars’ thin atmosphere.”
Small Mission to MarS is more than a technological venture—it’s a symbol of Italy’s ambition to strengthen its strategic autonomy in space operations. At a time when planetary exploration is regaining central importance in industrial and political agendas, SMS places Italy at the forefront of a new European vision for space. “This mission,” concludes Carrino, “shows that the Italian system, when working as a network, can achieve excellence even in the most competitive sectors like aerospace.”
- DAC Campania: www.daccampania.com
- DASS Sardinia: www.dassardegna.eu
- ALI SpA: www.ali.it
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