Roberto Vittori is an astronaut, visiting professor, associated researcher, and entrepreneur. He has flown to space three times, aboard Soyuz missions in 2002 and 2005 and the Space Shuttle in 2011. A former Brigadier General of the Italian Air Force, military pilot, and experimental test pilot, he has logged more than 2,500 flight hours on over 50 aircraft types. He served as the first Italian space attaché at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, D.C., gaining extensive experience in space diplomacy. Vittori has received numerous recognitions, including the Gold Medal for Aeronautical Value from the President of the Italian Republic, a NASA gold medal for space exploration, and a medal from the President of the Russian Federation. He was the first Italian to fly on Soyuz and the first non-Russian fully qualified as Soyuz commander. His vision focuses on extra-atmospheric resources as a foundation for the future global economy and the preservation of Earth’s ecosystem.