Italy to dispatch flag into space to mark 150th unity anniversary

Jan 7, 2011, 12:44 GMT

Reggio Emilia, Italy - An Italian flag which will be carried into space by an astronaut, was presented Friday at a ceremony marking the start of year-long celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Italy's unification.

The ceremony was held in Reggio Emilia, a northern city traditionally associated with the 18th Century Cispadane Republic - the first entity to fly the green-white-and red tricolour which inspired Italy's modern-day flag.

Local officials delivered a copy of the flag to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano who in turn plans to entrust it to astronaut Roberto Vittori.

Vittori is set to travel to space in April as part of mission to hook up with compatriot Paolo Nespoli who since December has been on board the International Space Station, an orbital research facility run by US, European, Russian, Japanese and Canadian, space agencies.

Nespoli is scheduled to return to earth in May when he also plans to bring back the flag with him.

Celebrations for Italy's unification are set to culminate on March 17, the date in 1861 when the Parliament proclaimed Victor Emmanuel II King of Italy.

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