Italian amb. greets Egypt on hosting African space agency HQ

CAIRO - 9 April 2019: Italian Ambassador in Cairo Giampaolo Cantini greeted Egypt on hosting the headquarters of the African Space Agency during the current year, MENA reported.

Italian Astronaut and engineer of the European Space Agency (ESA) Paolo Nespoli will be attending the 3rd scientific seminar hosted by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology in Cairo on April 10.

Cantini hoped that the Italian astronaut's visit to Egypt would help boosting cooperation between the two countries in the scientific and space science fields. He added that satellites and space technology are linked to activities on earth, especially with regard to sustainability. He further noted the importance of space technology strategy in light of the overpopulation in Egypt.

For his part, Nespoli said Egypt will make great achievements in light of its host of the African space agency's headquarters.

Nespoli, 61, is one of Europe’s oldest astronauts who arrived home in 2017 after a 139-day stay on the International Space Station. This was his third mission to space.

During the mission “his body, eyes, sleeping patterns, and eating habits were closely monitored as scientists try to understand how humans adapt to life in space,” according to Euronews website.

A veteran astronaut, Nespoli further completed 60 experiments on board the ISS in ESA's Colombus science lab module.

The statement released by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology said that registration for the seminar takes place online via its website.