By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
The global space community
gathered in Antalya for IAC2026, where the first day opened with a Prologue and
keynote addresses, followed by high-level discussions on the strategic role of
space and a plenary session with the heads of major space agencies, the Italian
Space Agency (ASI) said.
Keynotes were delivered by
Gabriella Arrigo, President of the International Astronautical Federation and
Director of International Affairs at ASI, and Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Turkish
Minister of Industry and Technology.
The programme then moved to
dialogue, beginning with the round table "Space – A National Strategic
Priority?", led by European Space Agency (ESA) Director General Josef
Aschbacher.
Immediately afterwards came
the plenary "One-to-One with Heads of Space Agencies." Arrigo and
Enrico Palermo took part in the dialogue with NASA, ESA, CNSA, the Indian Space
Research Organization (ISRO), the Canadian Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency (JAXA).
At the ASI stand, the
commissioner, Ambassador Mario Cospito, welcomed the heads of the IAF, ESA and
Türkiye Uzay Ajansı for the inauguration of the Exhibition.
Cooperation with Canada is
also on the agenda and was the focus of a bilateral meeting, according to ASI.
