From Moon bases to Mars: Space leaders stress need for global cooperation

Leaders of global space agencies gathered in Türkiye's Mediterranean province of Antalya for a special session at the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) and discussed international collaboration.

The session brought together senior aerospace officials from Türkiye, the US, Europe, China, India, Canada, and Japan.

Yusuf Kirac, president of the Turkish Space Agency, said orbital activities have expanded in recent years, while securing sustainable and secure access to space has become a logistical challenge that remains insurmountable without collaboration.

“Building the future of space requires collective capabilities, responsible leadership, and effective global cooperation — the IAC’s running theme of ‘The world needs more space’ this year means more space for science and innovation, for opportunities for young people and new ideas, and to ensure the participation of countries from all across the world,” he said.

NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson noted that upcoming Artemis III mission will feature a multinational crew of three Americans, one Canadian, and one Italian space traveler, utilizing orbital docking maneuvers with SpaceX and Blue Origin lunar landers before concluding the mission in 2027.

“We are lucky in the US to have full support of our Congress with funding; for example, they gave an additional $10 billion to our budget last year to help us with our Artemis program, build the Moon base, establish a permanent presence, and then move on to Mars,” he said, noting that the conclusion of Artemis III next year will pave the way for the subsequent Artemis missions.

European Space Agency Director General Josef Aschbacher said space has become a part of daily life with satellite technologies benefiting many areas of society, while the global space economy is expected to triple its current $600 billion valuation to over $1.8 trillion over the next decade.

He added that Europe is seeking ways to boost its robotic and crewed exploration capacity through global partnerships.

The speakers at the special executive session for space agency leaders included China National Space Administration’s Lu Guoping, Indian Space Research Organization’s V. Narayanan, Canadian Space Agency’s Jean-Claude Piedboeuf, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Hiroshi Yamakawa.

The event kicked off on Monday and will run until Friday, co-hosted by the Turkish Space Agency and SAHA Istanbul defense cluster, organized by the Turkish Industry and Technology Ministry. Anadolu serves as its global communications partner.