Rome - The Italian Astronaut and Air Force Colonel, Walter Villadei, returned from the Axion 3 mission at the International Space Station with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta’s Flag which he handed over at the sovereign state's headquarters in the Eternal City in a solemn ceremony.

 For this extraordinary event the doors which are usually closed were open to the media on Monday at the Villa Magistrate Headquarters of the Order of Malta on the Aventine Hill. The Axiom Mission 3 involved a private space flight to the international space station on Jan.18 this year.

 The mission lasted for 21 days and was operated by Axiom space. Colonel Walter Villadei was the Mission Pilot. The space crew included 3 others, Commander Michael, Lopez-Alegria, a dual citizen of the United States and Spain and Mission Specialists Alper Gezeravci from Turkey and Marcus Wandt from Sweeden.

 The Successful mission lasted 21 days which included 18 days of docking at the space station where the crew was able to conduct 54 experiment and complete 28 outreach events.

 During the flag returning ceremony Colonel Villadei spoke about the extraordinary collaboration and hospitality at the space station. He mentioned that when the door to the space station opened, they were embraced with hugs from the other astronauts. He remarked that there were 11 astronauts from 9 countries all working together to achieve the same mission goals.

 The biggest impactful moment from the Colonel was when he saw Italy from the Alps to Sicily below him. Another emotional moment was the first time he heard the countdown to lift off. Colonel Villadei received the flag before the mission at the Washington Italian Embassy December of last year during a press conference to present Italian Space Day. The Orders flag with the eight-pointed white cross known as the flag of the orders works “is the thousand-year-old banner under which around 150,000 Order of Malta’s members, volunteer and employees in 120 countries are working to alleviate suffering of others and to spread the message of peace and hope given by the Supreme Pontiff.”, according to the Sovereign Order of Malta.

 When the flag crossed the atmosphere, Fabrizio Colonna, Receiver of the Sovereign Order of Malta said, “After being deployed over nine centuries on five continents, our flag has now crossed the earth’s borders. We are very proud to know that the flag that flies over our hospitals, health centres and clinics as well as where our volunteers and employees operate – also in war zones – is now in orbit, part of a mission of great scientific value aimed at achieving a better world for all.”

 In order to commemorate the mission, the Order of Malta’s Post Office dedicated a special postmark with an image of the International Space Station orbiting the Earth, with the Order of Malta’s flag.

 The words “Sovrano Militare Ordine di Malta” and “Poste Magistrali” are printed on the postmark with the legend “Lancio Axiom Mission 3” and dated “19.I.2024”.

 After years of bringing guests to get in line to see the famous Buco della Serratura to get a view of Saint Peters perfectly framed by the garden and it was a pleasant surprise to find it was even more stunning inside.

 The flag ceremony was followed by drinks in the refined garden with special guests and friends of the Order of Malta.

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