Maria Antonietta Perino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria Antonietta Perino
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Perino in 2015
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| Alma mater | Polytechnic University of Turin |
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| Institutions | European Space Agency Thales Alenia Space |
Maria Antonietta Perino is an Italian engineer who works at Thales Alenia Space. She helps develop international connections for space projects. Before this, she was in charge of advanced space exploration programs. This included overseeing the exciting ExoMars mission. In 2019, the President of Italy gave her a special award called the Stella al Merito del Lavoro. This award recognizes people who have shown great skill and dedication in their work.
Early Life and Education
Maria Antonietta Perino grew up in Italy. She went to the Polytechnic University of Turin. There, she studied nuclear engineering, which is about how to use energy from atoms.
She also joined the very first summer school at the International Space University. This school teaches students from all over the world about space. She did so well that she was soon asked to teach there herself!
Her Amazing Space Career
In 1986, Maria Antonietta Perino started working at Thales Alenia Space. This company builds satellites and parts for space missions. She helped with important research missions for the Italian Space Agency and the European Space Agency.
Some of these missions included ExoMars, which explores Mars, and the Mars sample-return mission. This mission aims to bring pieces of Mars back to Earth for scientists to study.
Perino also looked into a cool idea: making solar cells on the Moon! Solar cells turn sunlight into electricity. Silicon, a material used in solar panels, is found in large amounts on the Moon. She believed that making solar panels on the Moon could make space travel cheaper. This is because it would cost less to power spacecraft if we didn't have to send all the power from Earth.
Thales Alenia Space built more than half of the pressurized parts of the International Space Station. These are the parts where astronauts live and work in space.
In 2010, Perino became the Director of Advanced Exploration. In this role, she helps young scientists who are just starting their careers in the space industry. She supports them in exploring new ideas for future space missions.
Awards and Special Recognition
Maria Antonietta Perino has received several awards for her important work:
- 2010: She was named "Woman of Excellence" by the Association Imprenditrici E Donne Dirigenti D'Azienda (AIDDA). This award celebrates successful businesswomen and leaders.
- 2019: The President of Italy gave her the Stella al Merito del Lavoro. This means "Star of Merit for Labor" and is a high honor for workers in Italy.
