Safety always comes... with tales from an incredible Space Career!

Tommaso Sgobba stands at the forefront of space safety leadership as the President and cofounder of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS), a global organization uniting premier space safety experts. 

It all started in April 2004, after there was the accident of Space Shuttle Columbia (occurred on February 1st 2003). Mr Sgobba was personally involved in the accident since ESA had most of the payload on that mission. His office and himself was in charge of the safety of the payload, thus when the tragedy occurred they started by gathering the office and putting together the documentation to start the investigation. 

With a wealth of experience, Tommaso held a pivotal role in ensuring flight safety at the European Space Agency (ESA), and NASA. Having commenced his career in the aeronautical industry, mr Sgobba joined ESA in 1989. Over the years, he transitioned into roles of increasing responsibility, eventually becoming the product assurance and safety manager for European manned missions on the Shuttle, MIR station, and the European facilities for the International Space Station.

He has significantly contributed to the field through numerous publications, including coediting the groundbreaking textbook "Safety Design for Space Systems" and the book "The Need for an Integrated Regulatory Regime for Aviation and Space." Tommaso's dedication has not only shaped ESA's safety protocols but has also left an indelible mark on the global landscape of space safety.

We had the huge pleasure to ask him some questions about his experiences and we found out a lot of incredible facts!

Enjoy the interview inside the latest Edition of the Space info Magazine

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