Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI)   AGENZIA SPAZIALE ITALIANA The Italian Space Agency (ASI) is a government agency, founded in 1988, having the responsibility: to promote, coordinate and manage national programs and bilateral and multilateral cooperation programs; to promote and support Italian scientific and industrial participation in the European Space Agency (ESA) programs, in harmonisation with national programs. National Space Plan A National Space Plan (PSN) has been established to promote, support and control a coordinated program for the scientific, technological and commercial applications of space activities as well as to promote new technological capabilities in the Italian Aerospace Industries. The PSN is defined by ASI on a five-year basis, with annual up-date, for the approval of the Ministry of University and Research and final endorsement by CIPE (Inter-ministerial Committee for Economic Planning). Budget In 1999 the Italian civil space budget reached the amount of 450 Meuro, shared between ESA (270 Meuro) and national activities (180 Meuro). In 2000 it reached approx. 483 Meuro, of which 303 Meuro for ESA programmes. A 15% of the budget is devoted to fundamental research activities in four Scientific Areas: Universe, Earth, Life and Engineering. Space Debris Activities In Italy, space debris activities are carried out by the National Research Council (CNR), Universities and Aerospace Industry, with ASI, ESA and internal financial support. The main fields covered are: reentry predictions of potentially risky space objects for the national civil protection authorities; short and long term debris environment modelling; protection of space structures and habitable modules; hypervelocity impact tests and modelling; radar observations of meteoroids entering in the atmosphere; electro-dynamic tethers for satellite de-orbiting or re-boost; orbital debris and meteoroids detectors in space; ground based optical and radar techniques for debris detection. ASI is active in the evaluation and implementation of mitigation practices. At national level, it promoted coordination in the field with other public administrations (Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Telecommunications) and private operators. At international level, ASI is involved, with BNSC, CNES, DLR and ESA, in the preparation of the future European space debris mitigation standards. Moreover, ASI provides technical support to the Italian delegation at the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS).