L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2026 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 2 H e r g a z e i s firmly set on t h e f u t u r e . H e r n a m e i s Amalia Ercoli Finzi, and she is 88 years old, not usually the first detail one w o u l d m e n t i o n a b o u t a woman, if trying to be polite. B u t i n t h i s c a s e , i t m a t t e r s because it helps explain the r e m a r k a b l e c l a r i t y o f h e r vision. Emeritus professor at the Politecnico di Milano and the first Italian woman to grad- uate in aeronautical engineering in 1962, she has worked on satellites, studied gamma-ray bursts, collaborated with the European Space Agency and NASA, and is widely regarded as one of the leading experts in space flight mechanics. She is such a respected figure in the field that a rover des- tined for Mars was named in her honor, not out of courtesy but as a fitting tribute to her extraordinary talent. Her résumé includes serving as Principal Investigator for the Rosetta mission, which in 2014 achieved one of the great Italy's big step toward the Moon (and beyond) From the Editor milestones of modern space exploration by placing a drill on a comet and collecting material from its icy, rocky surface during its close passage by Earth. Today, she continues to dedicate herself to space through her lucid and compelling work as a science communicator. Known as the "Lady of the Comets," and admired for championing a stronger female presence in science, she rep- resents not only Italian scientific excellence but also a broad- er idea of progress and inclusion. She has often said: "We are not returning to the Moon for a symbolic gesture, but to build a laboratory within easy reach, where we can do things useful to humanity that cannot be done on Earth, and to pre- pare ourselves to go to Mars." Put even more plainly, in her own words and with her unmistakable faith in science and technology: "In ten or fifteen years, people will go to Mars." At 88, she looks ahead with enviable confidence: few young people are as visionary. More than fifty years after the historic Apollo 11 Moon Landing, the Moon has returned to the center of internation- al attention. The goal is no longer simply to reach it, but to remain there: to build bases, test technologies, and under- stand how human beings can live and work in a hostile envi- ronment. In this sense, the Moon has become an essential proving ground for humanity's future journey to Mars. But the challenge is vastly more complex. Distance, harsh condi- tions, long travel times, and communication delays create formidable obstacles. For that reason, today's lunar missions are strategically important: on the Moon's surface, it is pos- sible to test life-support systems, technologies for extracting local resources, and new solutions for mobility in space, all crucial for future interplanetary travel. In this vast collective effort, Italy holds a place of real importance. Its contribution to space missions is broad and internationally recognized, both scientifically and industrial- ly. Italian companies, research centers, and universities actively participate in programmes led by the world's major space agencies, providing instruments, habitation modules, communication systems, and highly specialized expertise. Technologies being developed today across Italy – many already tested in lunar contexts – will be vital for future mis- sions. Advanced propulsion, self-sufficient habitats, robotics, and artificial intelligence are only some of the tools that could make travel to the Red Planet possible. Reaching Mars is no longer just an aspiration, it is becoming a clear direc- tion, with lunar missions marking the road toward long-term human presence beyond Earth. Italy's scientific tradition had already taken shape in the 1950s and 1960s, when it became the third country in the world, after the United States and the Soviet Union, to place an artificial satellite into orbit. That came in 1964 with San Marco 1, a project led by Luigi Broglio, widely regarded as the father of Italian astronautics. With that legacy, and with figures such as Amalia Ercoli Finzi, Italy is set to remain one of the protagonists of this extraordinary adventure, not only in ambition, but through concrete partnerships already signed with NASA. The road to Mars has already begun, and thanks to scientists, engineers, and researchers of her cal- iber, that distant red world may one day become a new fron- tier for humanity, with Italy helping to lead the way. Simone Schiavinato, Editor Simone Schiavinato NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Member of FUSIE (Federazione Unitaria Stampa Italianaall'Estero), COGITO L'Italo-Americano Please send correspondence to P.O. Box 40156 Pasadena CA 91114 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano Newspaper (a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization), www.italoamericano.org, is the largest and longest-running Italian news- paper in America, not to mention the cultural and news resource for all things Italian in the US. A bilingual newspaper which represents an historical landmark for the Italian American Communities in the West Coast and throughout the US. L'Italo-Americano benefits from subsidies by the Italian Government, Memberships and Donations intended to support and not interrupt a mission that began in 1908 to preserve and promote the Italian language and culture in the USA Periodicals postage paid at Monrovia, California 91016, and additional mailing offices. 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