Virgin Galactic is partnering with Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) to study whether it could launch from Grottaglie Spaceport in Puglia, Italy, Virgin CEO Michael Colglazier announced Thursday at the Italian Embassy. The aim is for the Grottaglie Spaceport to serve as a Mediterranean homebase for Virgin’s suborbital commercial and scientific crewed spaceflight, which has been on pause while the company works on its new space tourism vehicle.

“When Virgin Galactic fully utilizes the spaceport, we expect our next generation vehicles will fly to space between 250 and 300 times a year, supporting over 1,500 scientists, government researchers, and private citizens traveling this space annually,” said Coleglazier at Space Day. “When that volume of space travel happens, a spaceport becomes a truly amazing place.”