COSPAR 2026 conference in Florence spotlights lunar resource mapping, submarine analogs and AI ethics

(Adnkronos) – The COSPAR 2026 scientific assembly took place in Florence on 6‑7 August, dedicating its central sessions to the convergence of laboratory simulations, commercial markets, astrophysical research and ethical regulation of space exploration.

Serena Pezzilli of the Italian Space Agency presented the ICE BLUE project, a collaboration with the Italian Navy that uses submarine crews and Arctic expeditions as terrestrial analogs for astronauts. The study monitors brain activity, heart rate, gut microbiome and immune biomarkers before, during and after missions to define biological stress signatures and develop counter‑measures for future Moon and Mars missions.

Carolyn van der Bogert of the University of Münster unveiled GIS‑based models that combine high‑resolution thermal, illumination and rock‑composition satellite data to locate stable water‑ice deposits and map geological sequences for prospective lunar landing sites.

Riccardo Spinelli of Italy’s National Institute for Astrophysics reported the first X‑ray detection of a magnetic interaction between a young star and a mini‑Neptune‑type exoplanet, estimating the planet’s magnetic field between 40 and 350 Gauss and assessing atmospheric resilience to stellar radiation.

A plenary panel chaired by COSPAR president Pascale Ehrenfreund and Lockheed Martin CTO Craig Martell examined the use of artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and quantum computing in space, stressing the need for rigorous software verification under extreme conditions. Melissa de Zwart of the University of Adelaide concluded by urging the creation of an international regulatory framework to protect the space environment.