Bignami: wants Italy to return to flying satellite missions.

Giovanni Bignami, former scientific director of the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and former chair of the European Space Agency's (ESA's) space science advisory committee, was last week nominated as the ASI's next president. Nature asks him about his plans at the ASI, Europe's prospects in space and the art of Galileo Galilei.

What are Italy's main achievements in space?

The most recent success was the 1996–2002 Italian–Dutch BeppoSax mission dedicated to γ-ray bursts. A new γ-ray mission, AGILE, will be launched soon.

And its weaknesses?

New missions have been delayed, and new concepts crushed, by poor administration hindering the flow of contracts to industry and the scientific community.

What are your plans at the ASI?

We need to have a longer vision. Italy hasn't flown a space mission for more than a decade. I want to bring the ASI back to flying satellite missions, both in science and in a variety of applications.

How can Italy live up to its legacy in space?

Besides hard work and efficiency, this will require balancing a profound European commitment with exploiting the resources of our scientific community in conjunction with industry.

European space research is funded by national agencies such as the ASI, directly and through ESA. Is this mix an obstacle to Europe's competitiveness in space?

On the contrary, this is a gift to European nations. Out of the national programmes comes the greater breadth of the European programmes. United we stand, divided we fall.

In its 'Cosmic Vision 2015–2025', ESA has proposed a set of priorities for European space research. Which of the proposed missions do you consider most important?

It is most important that Europe now has a vision for its future in space science, from planets to the origin of the Universe. I do not have a scientific preference. That decision will be taken by Europe's scientists. A call for proposals has already hit the streets.

Should Europe join the new 'race to the Moon'?

Cum grano salis [with a grain of salt].

What about Mars?

I am a firm supporter of Aurora, ESA's planetary exploration programme. Its immediate aim is the robotic exploration of Mars. This is a great opportunity for Europe. Aurora also considers manned missions to Mars, albeit in the distant future.

Space exploration requires strong industrial partners. Is the balance in Europe between commercial interests and basic research needs in order?

All space missions are being designed, built and flown by industry. European industry needs political support to meet the challenge that is coming from all over the world, in the fields of launchers, satellite production and ground infrastructure. Basic research and commercial interests both represent challenges that can spur European industry to take a leading role in space.

Should Europe reach out for Russia as a partner in space?

Russia is already a partner. Imagine a world where Russia joins ESA. This might look difficult now, but it is potentially very interesting.

And NASA?

Since Italy's very first steps in space more than 40 years ago, it has been collaborating with NASA. I received my space education in the United States, and I will certainly try to increase the quality of the ASI's collaboration with NASA.

Which key questions do you think space scientists will answer in the next two decades?

Three things spring to mind: the nature and origin of dark matter, the observation of gravitational waves from the Big Bang, and discovering a new 'Earth'. All of them require bold, innovative space technologies, which are already at work in precursor missions such as ESA's Gaia, Planck, Herschel and LISA Pathfinder and the NASA/ESA James Webb Space Telescope. Finding a new Earth, possibly with evidence for life on it, will require the development of new technologies, such as space infrared interferometry.

Galileo Galilei has written some very worldly poems, the longest of which you have translated into English. What has the great scientist achieved in art?

Galileo's achievements in science were born of his post-Renaissance artistic education. He was a skilled draftsman, musician, and of course had a way with words. The Italian novelist Italo Calvino considered him the greatest writer in Italian literature. I remain fascinated by Galileo's genius.