INAF - Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica

The Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) is the main Italian research institution in astronomy and space sciences, employing more than one thousand persons in 12 astronomical observatories and 3 institutes. Namely, the Istituto di Astrofisica e Planetologia Spaziali (IAPS) will lead this project.

IAPS is located in the Rome area and is, for its staff size and scientific production, one of the main laboratories of INAF. It is born in January 2012 from the merging of two historical Institutes in the roman scientific area: the Institute of Space Astrophysics and Cosmic Physics (IASF) and the Institute of Physics of Interplanetary Space (IFSI). IAPS coordinates the activity of about 200 researchers and is one of the leading actors in the international astrophysical research scene.

IAPS activities include: planning and realizing space missions in the field of relativistic astrophysics and solar system exploration; theoretical and experimental research; advanced technology and instrument development; observations from the Earth; physics of the atmospheres and Space Physics; operating Italian experiments on board Mars Express and other satellites; comparing observations with numerical simulations to validate and improve our knowledge; disseminating this knowledge through publications, web services and public outreach.