ESA, EU and Museo Galileo plan navigation exhibition for 2027

The European Space Agency, the European Commission and Italy’s Museo Galileo have partnered on an exhibition linking Galileo Galilei’s scientific work with Europe’s satellite navigation system. Planned to open in December 2027, it will explore connections between the astronomer’s discoveries, the history of navigation and the system named in his honour. [1]

The development agreement was signed on 25 June 2026 by Javier Benedicto, ESA’s Director of Navigation at the time, and Museo Galileo Director Roberto Ferrari. ESA’s account identifies those two signatories, while describing the Commission as an exhibition partner.

The planned displays will bring together historical instruments, documents and objects from the museum’s collection with audiovisual material, interactive experiences, and technological equipment and models supplied by ESA. The three organisations and their industrial partners are to curate the exhibition jointly; individual exhibits and industrial partners have not been named. [1]

ESA explains the historical link through Galilei’s observations of Jupiter’s four largest moons, which inspired a technique used by cartographers to determine longitude. It also points to his work in physics, timekeeping and scientific instruments as contributions to more accurate navigation. The European Union named its Galileo navigation system after him.

Today, the European Commission manages and funds the Galileo programme. ESA leads the design, development and qualification of its space and ground systems, while the EU Agency for the Space Programme, EUSPA, provides the service and oversees satellite operations. Those programme responsibilities do not establish how the exhibition itself will be funded. [1]