NASA and Italian Space Agency Sign Agreement on Exploration of Mercury

June 20, 2013

Bob Jacobs/Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600/-1979
bob.jacobs@nasa.gov / michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 13-178

NASA AND ITALIAN SPACE AGENCY SIGN AGREEMENT ON EXPLORATION OF MERCURY

WASHINGTON -- At a meeting in Rome Thursday, NASA Administrator
Charles Bolden and Italian Space Agency (ASI) President Enrico
Saggese signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on the
European Space Agency- (ESA) led BepiColombo mission to Mercury,
strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation between NASA and ASI in
planetary exploration.

Bolden and Saggese also discussed NASA's plans for a new asteroid
initiative, previously announced in President Obama's fiscal year
2014 budget proposal. Saggese expressed the strong interest of Italy
for the initiative and welcomed the opportunity to discuss potential
ASI participation in a long-term exploration strategy.

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http://www.nasa.gov


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