Antalya:The 77th International Astronautical Congress in Trkiye will delve into crucial topics on its second day, focusing on NASA's Artemis II mission, satellite constellations, and the intersection of commercial space with geopolitics.
According to Anadolu Agency, Artemis II, which successfully carried four astronauts around the Moon in April, will be a significant point of discussion. The mission marked the first crewed lunar flyby in over fifty years and was aimed at testing systems essential for future crewed lunar surface missions. NASA Artemis program manager Jeremy Parsons is scheduled to join an industry panel at 11:45 am to discuss the mission's outcomes.
The congress, held for the first time in Trkiye, is organized by the International Astronautical Federation and hosted by the Turkish Space Agency with SAHA Istanbul as co-host. Running from October 5-9 in Antalya, the event brings together global space leaders to explore the evolving space landscape.
A notable focus on Tuesday will be the sustainability and safety of large satellite constellations. Michael Nicolls, SpaceX's senior vice president of Starlink engineering, is slated to address these challenges in an evening lecture. This discussion is timely as satellite networks continue to expand in the increasingly congested low-Earth orbit.
The relationship between commercial space endeavors and national interests will also be examined. A plenary session titled 'Geopolitics vs. Innovation' will explore how companies managing Earth-observation fleets and in-space infrastructure are navigating the demands of global markets alongside governmental and security needs.
The day's events will begin with a session on the shift from national space programs to a global space ecosystem, featuring leaders like Axiom Space Chief Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria and representatives from the Turkish Space Agency and other institutions. The congress also includes the third IAF Global Space Leaders Summit, gathering heads of space agencies from both established and emerging nations.