The Planetary Sciences curriculum explores the fundamental processes that shaped our Solar System. From the birth of planets and minor bodies to the emergence of life, this path combines geological, physical, and chemical perspectives to understand the evolution of planetary environments and their potential for human exploration.
Scientific Focus
Research within this curriculum addresses key questions about the nature of our cosmic neighborhood:
- Formation & Evolution: Understanding the origin of the Solar System and the processes that shaped the diverse properties of planets and minor bodies.
- Astrobiology: Investigating the conditions that fostered the genesis of life and its evolution on planetary surfaces;
- Planetary Resources: Studying the presence of water, minerals, and other resources on the Moon, Mars, and asteroids to support sustainable space exploration.
Training & Research Pillars
The educational path is structured around practical and theoretical phases:
- Space Instrumentation: Design and development of cutting-edge sensors for Solar System exploration missions;
- Data Analysis & Modelling: Processing data from international space missions supported by laboratory simulations;
- Geo-mineralogical Studies: Analyzing planetary, asteroidal, and meteoritic materials, including the study of terrestrial analogues;
- In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): Developing technologies to use local resources on the Moon and Mars to support future human habitats.
Leadership
Coordinator: Giovanni Pratesi