VALERIO DI TANA

About Valerio

Valerio Di Tana is the Program Manager at Argotec, with over 10 years of experience in managing and developing innovative systems and technologies for human space exploration and Deep Space satellite missions.

Born in 1987, he studied aerospace engineering at the Politecnico di Torino and completed his studies with a thesis at the European Space Agency’s (ESA) European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Germany. During his time at EAC, he received training from ESA and Argotec staff in managing and supporting complex systems operations on the International Space Station.

Hired by Argotec in 2012, he worked as a technical manager on space system development projects, including ISSpresso, a “space” coffee machine designed to operate in microgravity, and Thermal Exchange, developed for in-orbit experimentation of passive and innovative high-efficiency thermal transfer systems.

Promoted to Project Manager, he led the UTISS program for the Italian Space Agency, managing support activities for the development and qualification of Italian experiments for the VITA and VOLARE missions, conducted on the ISS by Paolo Nespoli and Luca Parmitano, respectively.

He continued his experience as a Project Manager by overseeing the ArgoMoon and LICIACube programs, which involved the development and in-orbit operations of highly advanced small satellites commissioned by the Italian Space Agency and NASA. He coordinated the development of flight systems and ground systems used in the operational management of these two Deep Space satellites.

Since 2021, he has served as the Program Manager at Argotec, leading a team of 10 Project Managers and managing a project portfolio worth over $50 million.