Reaching an altitude of over 100 kilometers from the Earth's surface and entering orbit is no longer just a dream. Orbital and suborbital flights are creating new opportunities for scientific missions and ultra-fast transportation. Soon, space travel will no longer be accessible only to a privileged group of space tourists.
Digitalization, miniaturization, artificial intelligence, and reusable launchers are bringing space closer to new models of research and business. This requires open space infrastructure and technologies designed to transform exploration into a shared opportunity.
A technological challenge that combines science, medicine, communication, engineering, and design.
Zephyr
By PoliTO Student Team PoliTOrbital. Academic Advisor: Nicole Viola
Zephyr is a conceptual suborbital vehicle designed by the student team PoliTOrbital at Politecnico di Torino. Developed for both scientific research and space tourism., Zephyr embodies the a vision: of making space accessible to ordinary people. The project integrates expertise in aerothermodynamics, propulsion systems, structural materials, medical aspects, and communication strategies, reflecting the team’s multidisciplinary approach.
Zephyr is tailored for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) missions and aligns with the growing trend of commercial spaceflight. It leverages cutting-edge technologies such as reusable launch systems, miniaturization, and AI to reduce costs and environmental impact. The vehicle is also part of a broader educational and innovation initiative, showcased at international events like Expo 2025, where it represents the future of sustainable and inclusive aerospace mobility.
Through Zephyr, PoliTOrbital not only explores technical challenges but also promotes a cultural shift: envisioning space not as an elite frontier, but as a shared opportunity for exploration, learning, research and global collaboration
As part of NODES ecosystem, Politecnico di Torino is the lead institution of the Spoke 1, entirely dedicated to space. Within the NODES project, PoliTo presents at Expo Osaka 2025 the Space4you project:
Space4You
By NODES – Nord Ovest Digitale e Sostenibile (Digital and Sustainable North-Western Italy), Spoke 1, Aerospace and sustainable mobility. Coord: Sabrina Corpino, Fabio Dovis
Space4You is one of the flagship initiatives of the NODES (Nord Ovest Digitale e Sostenibile) ecosystem, funded under Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The project aims to establish a distributed laboratory for small satellites missions and foster innovation in the new space economy.
The Politecnico di Torino plays a central role in Space4You, leading the Spoke 1 cluster dedicated to Aerospace and Sustainable Mobility. PoliTO coordinates research and development activities in collaboration with key regional and national partners, including the University of Torino, LINKS Foundation, I3P Incubator, Environmental Park, CIM 4.0. The project supports both upstream (mission development) and downstream (service deployment) applications of micro and nanosatellites, addressing challenges in Earth observation, telecommunications, and space exploration and more.
Space4You also contributes to the broader goals of NODES by promoting technology transfer, industrial collaboration, and entrepreneurship. Through cascade funding mechanisms, the initiative provides financial support to companies and startups, enabling them to adopt cutting-edge satellite technologies and accelerate innovation without bearing the full cost of research.
