ESA at the 77th International Astronautical Congress
ESA will participate in the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), which opens on Monday 5 October and runs until Friday 9 October in Antalya, Türkiye. More than 6,000 participants are expected at the Nest Congress and Exhibition Centre under the theme ‘The World Needs More Space’. ESA will be present throughout the event in Hall 1, booth 1B-02, with an exhibition showcasing the agency’s latest mission results, achievements and future ambitions.
IAC offers a platform to connect with key players across the space sector — from ESA Member States and international partners to industry — and to strengthen global space cooperation. Anne-Sophie Bradelle, Head of ESA Communication Department, said ESA’s presence aims to reinforce its role as a global space leader and trusted international partner, adding that in today’s geopolitical context ESA’s expanding and diversifying partnerships will continue to deliver benefits in competitiveness, diplomacy, security and innovation.
Bilateral events, technical sessions and strategic initiatives throughout the week will reinforce ESA’s commitment to international cooperation, advancing sustainable and responsible exploration, and supporting ambitious missions from Earth to the Moon and beyond.
The exhibition is titled ‘European Space Agency: Elevating the Future of Europe’ and highlights the five goals of ESA Strategy 2040: protecting our planet and climate; exploring and discovering; strengthening European autonomy and resilience; boosting European growth and competitiveness; and inspiring Europe. Building on the outcomes of ESA’s Council at Ministerial level in 2025 and the International Space Summit in Paris last September, it will highlight the fundamental role of space in helping build a safe, sustainable, resilient and competitive future for Europe, paving the way towards the Intermediate Ministerial Meeting in Rome this December.
Inside the exhibition, visitors travel from Earth to the Moon and Mars, with displays showing how international cooperation is helping expand Europe’s capabilities in space. Major achievements with international partners include BepiColombo, the first ESA–JAXA mission to Mercury, launched in 2018 for an 8-year journey; SMILE, the joint ESA–Chinese Academy of Sciences mission studying the interaction between the solar wind and Earth; and future missions such as Ramses, an ESA–JAXA mission planned to rendezvous with asteroid Apophis in 2029.
Throughout the week, the ESA booth will host a series of events giving visitors the chance to meet ESA experts and interact with ESA astronauts. The Congress will also bring together students, young professionals and established space professionals from around the world.