Italy is home to a unique entity: ASIMOF, which stands for Associazione Italiana Modelli Fedeli APS.  This apolitical, nonprofit cultural association is dedicated to the dissemination of scientific culture, particularly astronomy and astronautics, with a hands-on and engaging approach. The beating heart of ASIMOF is its passion for faithful models of spacecraft and rockets, reproduced with meticulous precision and attention to detail.  These true works of art, created by association members, are not just static objects but tools to tell the story of space exploration and stimulate curiosity about the universe.

Through the construction of faithful models of spacecraft and rockets, reproduced with incredible precision, ASIMOF offers an engaging and inspiring experience for enthusiasts of all ages. These true works of art are not only beautiful to look at but become tools to tell the story of space exploration, igniting curiosity and a desire to learn about the universe. We talked about this with the association’s founder and president, Dario Kubler, during one of the days of IAC 2024, the international conference on the space industry in Milan, Italy, this year.

ASIMOF

ASIMOF actively collaborates with the “G.V. Schiaparelli” Astronomical Observatory and others in the area to organise exhibitions, events and observational evenings, allowing the public to admire models up close and observe the sky with professional telescopes.  In addition, the association offers educational workshops for schools, creating an interactive learning environment where young people can learn while having fun and building models. The “Omerio Space Center” is another feather in AASIMOF’scap, a workshop where members build life-size models, such as a replica of the Apollo spacecraft. ASIMOF’s commitment to science popularisation is also evidenced by its national awards, such as the “Asimov 2023” prize for Lombardy awarded to students from the “Ferraris” high school in Varese. ASIMOF is a reference point for anyone wishing to approach the world of astronomy and astronautics, a place where passion for space is transformed into a tangible and engaging experience.