On July 18, 2026, the young innovative company REA Space officially inaugurated its new operational headquarters in the city of Fasano, in the Italian province of Brindisi in the southern region of Puglia (Apulia), with representatives from government institutions, partners, and key figures from the national aerospace sector in attendance.
The event, named “Liftoff”, marked a major milestone in the growth of the start-up, which is now one of the most innovative companies in the Italian aerospace industry.
Founded by Flavio Gentile, Roberto Guastamacchia, Ilario Lagravinese, and Tiberio Potenza, REA Space develops advanced wearables and protective systems for human space exploration, with the goal of making it safer, more efficient, and more sustainable. This journey has already brought EMSi technology aboard the Ax-3 mission in 2024, thanks to a collaboration with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the Italian Air Force.
In 2024, REA Space completed its incubation path in I3P, the Innovative Companies Incubator of Politecnico di Torino, and in the ESA BIC Turin program, run by I3P in collaboration with ASI, ESA, Politecnico di Torino and LINKS Foundation.
Several special guests added depth and insight to the event on July 18. General Roberto Vittori, an Italian astronaut who has completed three missions to the International Space Station, the first European to qualify as a Soyuz return commander, and the only Italian to have flown on both the Soyuz and the Space Shuttle, donated to the new headquarters the IVA spacesuit he wore during the STS-134 mission - the final flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour - which is now on display at the company’s facilities.
Next to him was Aldo Drudi, the designer who for over forty years has shaped the aesthetic of global motorsports, from Valentino Rossi’s helmets to the liveries that have redefined the visual language of MotoGP, and who, through his studio Drudi Performance, is now collaborating with REA Space on the design of the company’s upcoming wearable solutions, including FUTURA, Europe’s first modular EVA suit, presented at EXPO 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
Speakers at the event included the mayor of Fasano, Francesco Zaccaria, along with Councilor Gianluca Cisternino, Nicola Latorre (former Chair of the Senate Defense Committee and Director General of the Defense Industries Agency) and Fabio Mastrapasqua (Director of the Innovation Support Policies Service for the Puglia Region), who highlighted the connection between research, business, and the local community that characterizes REA Space’s project.
Also on stage was Francesco Cupertino, former Rector of the Polytechnic University of Bari and one of the first to believe in the young company’s project: under his leadership, the university supported the company in preparing for the Ax-3 mission, which sent EMSi technology into space. In his remarks, Cupertino highlighted REA Space’s ability to attract talent to Puglia, reversing a trend that for years had seen the brightest young people leave Southern Italy to build their futures elsewhere.
This trend is reflected in the company’s figures: the REA Space team now includes engineers and professionals from all over Europe who have chosen to relocate to Fasano to contribute to the project. This international, multidisciplinary group brings together expertise in aerospace engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science, and design, and perhaps represents the most significant milestone achieved so far: proving that excellence can choose the South.
A moment during the evening was dedicated to the memory of Professor Teodoro Valente, President of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), who passed away prematurely just a few days before the event. “The support and trust of ASI are a fundamental part of our history”, said Flavio Gentile, CEO of REA Space. “To President Valente, who led the Agency during a period of extraordinary growth in the Italian space sector, we extend the heartfelt thoughts and gratitude of the entire REA Space team. The best way we know to honor his legacy is to continue working to ensure that Italy plays a leading role in space.”
With its new facility, which houses laboratories and specialized equipment for comprehensive monitoring of every stage of development, REA Space is solidifying its foundation and renewing its ambition: to demonstrate that Southern Italy can play a leading role in the global New Space Economy.
