Antalya:The 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), recognized as the largest global gathering in the space sector, is set to take place from October 5-9 at the NEST Convention Center in Belek, near Antalya. This is the first time the event is being hosted in T¼rkiye since its inception in 1950.

According to Anadolu Agency, the congress will welcome over 10,000 participants, including space agency leaders, company executives, engineers, scientists, and students. This year's theme is 'The World Needs More Space.' The event will address critical issues such as weapons in orbit, AI data centers in space, overcrowded skies, and a renewed race to the moon.

The IAC, organized by the International Astronautical Federation, functions as a scientific conference, trade fair, and diplomatic summit. It allows for the presentation of technical papers, showcases of rockets and satellites, and discussions among leaders of rival space powers. The congress has previously been a platform for significant announcements, such as SpaceX's Mars mission plan and Australia's national space agency launch.

This year's agenda includes sessions on moon exploration, space medicine, and geopolitical challenges. NASA will present on its Artemis missions, while other sessions will focus on space security, exploration, and ethics. The European Space Agency will discuss themes of the week, and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory will present its Mars AI work.

The congress comes at a time of heightened interest in space weaponry and AI. Recently, the US admitted to having space weapons, and plans for a missile shield, the Golden Dome, are underway. Meanwhile, SpaceX and Google are making advances in AI technology in space, despite concerns about costs and orbital congestion.

The Global Space Leaders Summit, part of the congress, will feature officials from over 40 countries, including NASA, the European Space Agency, ISRO, CNSA, JAXA, and the Canadian Space Agency. Industry leaders such as Jonathan Cirtain of Axiom Space and Mike Gold of Redwire will also attend.

T¼rkiye's Ministry of Industry and Technology is coordinating the event, hosted by the Turkish Space Agency and co-hosted by SAHA Istanbul, with Anadolu as the global communications partner.