Friday, May 22 - Morning

Technical visits will be organized in the scope of SP2026 Conference.
If you are interested in participating in one of these visits, please access your online account and register.

Technical Visit #1: SITAEL in Bari

Address: SITAEL S.p.A., Via S. Sabino, 21, 70042 Mola di Bari – journey time 30min by bus
Duration: 1h30
Number of participants: 3 groups of 10 people => 30 pax
Information required for registration: copy of ID
Registration deadline: May 01^st

General timing:
Departure from Bari Central Train Station at 08h30 (meeting time 8h15) – Arrival at visit at 09h00
Visit will take place divided into 3 groups of 10 people.
Departure from visit at 10h45 – Arrival at Bari Central train Station at 11h15

Description :

SITAEL S.p.A. is one of the largest privately owned aerospace company in Italy. Over the years, SITAEL has developed extensive expertise in the design, manufacturing, development, and qualification of three main product lines:

• end-to-end missions on small satellites
• electric propulsion systems
• avionics units and subsystems

During the technical visit, participants will have the opportunity to tour these facilities:

• The brand-new Satellite AIT Factory, featuring a 1,200 m² ISO 8 cleanroom. This facility serves as a fully integrated production and space qualification center for satellites up to  600 kg in mass.
• A 3-meter diameter thermal vacuum chamber — the largest in Southern Italy and among the few of its size in Europe.
• A 1-meter diameter thermal vacuum chamber.
• A satellite-level vibration test shaker.
• A semi-anechoic chamber for EMC testing.
• An in-house electronics production line

These facilities enable SITAEL to manage the complete lifecycle of space systems, from design and assembly to testing and final qualification, ensuring high reliability and full compliance with international space standards.
It will be possible to have a look to Sitael Electric Propulsion Systems fully integrated.

Technical Visit #2: ASI premises in Matera

Address: ASI Space Center, Locality of Terlecchia snc, 75100 Matera – journey time 1h by bus
Duration: 1h15
Number of participants: 2 groups of 25 people ==> 50 pax
Information required for registration: copy of ID
Registration deadline: May 01^st

General timing:
Departure from Bari Central Train Station at 08h00 (meeting time 7h45) – Arrival at visit at 09h00
Visit will take place divided into 2 groups of 25
Departure from visit at 11h00 – Arrival at Bari Central train Station at 12h00

Description:

ASI's Space Center was established in 1983 in Matera, in the Murgia Terlecchia area, thanks to the joint effort of the CNR National Space Plan (succeeded in 1988 by the Italian Space Agency) and the Basilicata Region. The CGS is ASI's main operational center.

The visit will be spread over several steps:

• Introduction and presentation of the base
• Geodesy and VLBI (very long baseline interferometry) activities
• Space Debris (and Flyeye Telescope, tbc)

Laser Ranging / Quantum laboratory / MLRO (Matera Laser Ranging Observatory)

Technical Visit #3: Grottaglie Airport Test Bed (via DTA)

Address: SP83, 74020 Grottaglie Tarente – journey time 1h30 by bus
Duration: 1h30
Number of participants: 3 groups of 16 people => 48 pax
Information required for registration: copy of ID
Registration deadline: May 08^th

General timing:
Departure from Bari Central train Station at 08h00 (meeting time 7h45) – Arrival at visit at 09h30
Visit will take place divided into 3 groups of 16 people.
Departure from visit at 11h00 – Arrival at Bari Central train Station at 12h30

Description:

Grottaglie Airport Test Bed (GATB) is an operational environment supporting the development and validation of advanced aerospace and deep-tech solutions, helping teams move from prototype to operational testing. Visitors will experience a working test setting that includes the hangar with devices, laboratories and technical equipment for system and subsystem activities. The visit also provides access to the control room in the control tower, used to coordinate and monitor test operations, as well as outdoor areas with containers housing test rigs and experimental setups.