Orbital Paradigm Adds Kayser Italia to Learn to Fly Manifest

Introduction

Kayser Italia, a subsidiary of FAE Technology and a long-standing provider of microgravity experiment hardware, has signed an agreement to fly a payload on Orbital Paradigm’s Learn to Fly mission, scheduled for April 2027. The payload will test technologies tied to reentry platforms and sample recovery for microgravity applications.

Date
09.04.2026
Author
Orbital Paradigm
Type
News

Kayser Italia has designed and operated experiment hardware on the Space Shuttle, FOTON and BION capsules, and aboard the ISS for over two decades, working with the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA, and commercial partners. The company’s decision to fly on Learn to Fly adds an experienced operator to a mission that already carries payloads from multiple customers.

“Kayser Italia has operated payloads in orbit for decades. When operators with that kind of flight heritage commit to fly with us, it tells us the service we’re building matches a real need,” says Francesco Cacciatore, CEO of Orbital Paradigm.

“The agreement with Orbital Paradigm enhances the expertise developed by Kayser Italia in the space sector, supporting its application in the development of commercial solutions for low Earth orbit. Participation in the mission also contributes to the evolution of operational models in the post-International Space Station environment. Our ability to manage the entire payload lifecycle, from launch to return, positions us as a strategic partner within a European space economy that requires rapid execution and reliable scientific outcomes. This synergy further supports our path toward a scalable, high-value business model.”, adds David Stefano Zolesi, Chief Executive Officer of Kayser Italia and Director of the Space Division of the FAE Technology Group.

A commercial traction

The agreement is the latest in a series of commercial milestones for Orbital Paradigm. In March, the company signed an MoU with COMAT to explore return services for biology payloads onboard future spacecraft. Separately, four other customers have signed launch service agreements for Learn to Fly. Learn to Fly is Orbital Paradigm’s second mission, following the KID capsule flight in January 2026, and will be the company’s first attempt at controlled reentry and recovery in Europe.

About Orbital Paradigm

Orbital Paradigm is a Madrid-based space-transportation company founded in 2023. It develops reusable in-space transport vehicles capable of returning to Earth. As first application, the company ships sensitive materials to space and returns zero-gravity experiments and manufactured products to the industries that need them. It launched its first capsule, KID, in January 2026, with a second mission planned for early 2027. These flights support the development of Kestrel, the company’s reusable return capsule designed to reach up to monthly operations in the early 2030s.

About Kayser Italia 

FAE Technology S.p.A. - Benefit Company is the Tech company leading the Italian Group of the same name, listed on the Euronext Growth Milan market of the Italian Stock Exchange, and is an advanced electronics and space technology solutions leader.  Through the Electronics Division, the Group operates as an Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) and comprises several highly-specialized companies: FAE Technology, Elettronica GF, IpTronix and MAS Elettronica. The Space division operates through Kayser Italia and Kayser Space, providing technology and support for space exploration and in-orbit activities. Together, the various entities form a technology platform that covers the entire life cycle of a solution: from R&D to co-design, from material supply to prototyping and production and from advanced testing to after-sales support. Founded in 1990 in Gazzaniga (BG) by Francesco Lanza, who began by producing a small series of electronic boards, FAE Technology has been led since 2008 by his son Gianmarco Lanza, current Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer. FAE Technology is known for its focus on innovation - promoting open innovation and shared research at the “Kilometro Rosso” hub - and on sustainability and corporate social responsibility, becoming a Benefit Company on May 13, 2022. FAE Technology benefits from memberships with renowned universities and research centers, including the “Senseable City Lab” at the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Boston, in addition to strategic partnerships with major sector players. The Group’s ability to tap into both organic and acquisition-led growth opportunities, including through supply chain and market consolidation, strengthens its role as a strategic technology development partner to companies and organizations. The Group reports a consolidated value of production of Euro 75.5 million for 2024, up 18.2% on 2023.

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