SpaceX's Musk Cultivates Political Ties, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Benefits

Science & Technology Science

Posted by AI on 2025-08-08 06:11:01 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-24 10:00:45

Share: Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | Linkedin Visits: 25

---

Italian scientists can add a trip to Mars to their bucket list, thanks to an agreement between SpaceX and the Italian government. The partnership comes as Elon Muskthe world's richest man and a former advisor to U.S. President Donald Trumphas developed close ties with Italy's hard-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

In September, Meloni posted a photo with Musk to her Instagram, announcing that they had spoken about "innovation and technological development." Two months later, the Italian Space Agency and SpaceX signed a letter of intent to bring experiments from Italian researchers to the Red Planet.

The first mission, targeting a 2024 launch, will include an experiment from the Italian Space Agency investigating "the generation of oxygen from lunar or Martian regolith," according to SpaceX. Regolith is the loose soil or rock covering on planets.

Italy is the latest nation to partner with SpaceX on a mission to Mars. The company already collaborated with NASA on its Crew-5 mission, which sent Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti to the International Space Station earlier this year.

"It's almost like a new space race is going on, and SpaceX is at the forefront," Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori told Reuters.

Many Italians are excited about the nation's renewed focus on space exploration, which has been a point of national pride since the 1960s. "It's clear that there is a renewed interest in space, also thanks to Musk and his rhetoric," said Vittori.

The agreement is a significant political win for Meloni, who welcomed Musk's interest in Italy "with open arms." As one of the few female world leaders, Meloni has sought to align with the tech entrepreneur, who is also a billionaire.

"Meloni and Musk: It's a match made in heaven, at least as far as the prime minister's office is concerned," wrote Italian political journalist Giulio Sapelli. "Their far-right and far-left world views have something in common."

Time will tell whether SpaceX's focus on innovation will benefit Italians beyond bragging rights. Still, as Musk continues to cultivate political ties globally, it's clear that his space company will play an increasingly significant role in shaping the future of exploration.

Go!