The 77th International Astronautical Congress Opens Its Doors in Antalya

The world's largest space gathering, the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026), began with thousands of participants at the Antalya NEST Congress Center under the theme "The World Needs More Space."

Hosts and Scope of the Congress

Organized by the International Astronautical Federation, the major event is being carried out under the coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Technology.

Thousands of representatives from 108 countries are participating in the congress, which is co-hosted by the Turkish Space Agency and SAHA Istanbul.

Opening Ceremony and Participation of Leaders

The massive organization was realized with the honored attendance of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the intense participation of industry leaders.

In the opening speeches, Turkey's determination in the space race and the concrete steps taken were discussed in detail.

Turkey's Space Projects and Goals

President Erdoğan emphasized that they never allowed Turkey to fall behind in the space race.

During the statements, attention was drawn to the İMECE, TÜRKSAT 5A, TÜRKSAT 5B, and the first domestic communication satellite TÜRKSAT 6A projects.

Additionally, mentions were made of the Lunar Research Program under the National Space Program and the spaceport projects constructed in Somalia.

Antalya Declaration and Cooperations

Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır touched upon the 16th Ministerial and Parliamentarians Meeting.

During the meeting, emphasis was placed on the importance of the Antalya Declaration for Peace in Space, pioneered by Turkey.

Public Day and Special Panels

Within the scope of the congress program, various panels and public days are meeting with participants.

Within the framework of the events, next-generation developments in the fields of technology and space are being addressed from a broad perspective.