[meteorite-list] NASA and Italian Space Agency Sign Agreement on Exploration of Mercury

[Ron Baalke]

June 20, 2013

Bob Jacobs/Michael Braukus 
Headquarters, Washington                                    
202-358-1600/-1979 
bob.jacobs at nasa.gov / michael.j.braukus at nasa.gov 

RELEASE: 13-178

NASA AND ITALIAN SPACE AGENCY SIGN AGREEMENT ON EXPLORATION OF MERCURY

WASHINGTON -- At a meeting in Rome Thursday, NASA Administrator 
Charles Bolden and Italian Space Agency (ASI) President Enrico 
Saggese signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation on the 
European Space Agency- (ESA) led BepiColombo mission to Mercury, 
strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation between NASA and ASI in 
planetary exploration. 

Bolden and Saggese also discussed NASA's plans for a new asteroid 
initiative, previously announced in President Obama's fiscal year 
2014 budget proposal. Saggese expressed the strong interest of Italy 
for the initiative and welcomed the opportunity to discuss potential 
ASI participation in a long-term exploration strategy. 

For more information about NASA, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov 

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