Virtute 1 Mission
SFS1 on board
The Italian Air Force mission in collaboration with CNR departed from Spaceport America in New Mexico, Virgin Galactic’s space flight airport, on June 29.
The mission flew on Virgin Galactic’s Space Ship Two. The commander was Colonel Walter Villadei, Air Force Astronaut, and he used the SFS1 for the flight.
SFS1 (Smart Flight Suit One)
The SFS1 contains textile conductors that detect some medical parameters such as the astronaut’s ECG and communicate their stability via LEDs applied to the suit.
Colonel Walter Villadei tests the SFS1.
Col. Villadei with Marcello Azzoni, R&D Chief.
The Italian crew of Virtute 1: Lt. Col. Landolfi, Col. Villadei and Eng. Carlucci.
Virtute 1 brought an all-Italian crew. In addition to Col. Villadei, medical Lt. Col. Landolfi and Engineer Carlucci from the CNR were also on board.
The SFS1 has undergone a review of the requirements to comply with the safety parameters required by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and some experiments will be housed in the pockets of the suit, which supports up to 12 G of acceleration.
Presentation of the Virtute 1 mission (click to watch the video).
Space Ship Two carried under its twin-fuselage mothership, White Knight Two.
Press conference
Extract of the press conference, with an in-depth analysis of the SFS1 by Col. Villadei.
