The European Astronaut Reunion 2026

The European Astronaut Reunion 2026 was hosted by Romania as part of the commemorative framework.

A distinguished group of international astronauts, including Julie Payette, Chair of the IAF Astronauts Administrative Committee, together with representatives of the scientific, academic, and space communities, gathered at the Transilvania University of Brașov to mark the 45th anniversary of the first Romanian human spaceflight by cosmonaut Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu aboard Soyuz-40 in 1981.

The gathering aimed to celebrate Romania’s historic contribution to human spaceflight while promoting international cooperation, education, and inspiration for younger generations in the fields of science, technology, and space exploration.

On this occasion, IAF President Gabriella Arrigo addressed participants through a pre-recorded message, congratulating Romania and Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu on this important anniversary and reaffirming the International Astronautical Federation’s commitment to advancing international dialogue and cooperation for the peaceful use of outer space.