IAF Young Space Leaders (YSL) Recognition Programme
The IAF Young Space Leaders (YSL) Recognition Programme is awarded to exceptional students and young professionals, who contribute to astronautics in their academic or early careers, reach out to other young people and their communities to share knowledge and experiences, have been engaged with the international space community and contribute to IAF activities.
Nominate a candidate for the 2026 IAF Young Space Leaders (YSL) Recognition Programme!
DEADLINE: 6 FEBRUARY 2026
The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) is pleased to announce its 2026 IAF Young Space Leaders Recognition Programme that will provide opportunities to recognise students and young professionals who are demonstrating exceptional leadership in their academics or early careers. The IAF is soliciting nominations for the 2026 IAF Young Space Leaders Recognition Programme from IAF Members, Technical and Administrative Committees on students and young professionals between the ages of 21 to 35 years on 1 January 2026 who are:
- Contributing to astronautics through their academic and/or professional activities,
- Reaching out to other young people and to their community to share knowledge and experience,
- Engaging colleagues in the international space community,
- Contributing to the work of IAF committees and/or volunteering in support of other Federation activities such as physical or virtual participation in selection activities related to IAF grants, Next Generation Plenary and awards; participation in organization of IAC technical sessions and other activities; and participation on local organizing committees for GLEC, GLEX, GLOC and other IAF meetings. (Note: Attendance at International Astronautical Congress does not in itself qualify).
Nominations should contain: - A nomination letter from an IAF member organisation, an IAF Technical Committee or an IAF Administrative Committee summarising the nominee’s qualifications and specifying how the nominee meets the criteria. Please download the template here below. - Two letters of recommendation addressing the contributions and engagement of the nominee.
The 2026 IAF Young Space Leaders will be selected by the Federation’s Young Space Leaders Selection Subcommittee in consultation with the IAF President during March 2026. The Federation will notify the nominating organizations of those selected and subsequently the selectees themselves no later than 8 May 2026.
The IAF Young Space Leaders will be inducted at the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), 5 – 9 October 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye at the Closing Ceremony. They will attend the IAC Gala Dinner as guests of the IAF President. Although travel expenses to attend the IAC will not be provided by the IAF, the IAC registration fee will be waived. Nominators are encouraged to help identify sources of funding for their nominee if selected.
IAF Young Space Leaders will help increase knowledge among and broaden the involvement of students and young professionals worldwide in astronautics activities and the IAF.
In the year following their induction, IAF Young Space Leaders will:
- Be featured in an IAF newsletter and on the IAF website, contributing a short summary of their experience and achievements and their perspectives on space and international cooperation, including the role of the IAF.
- Mentor the Emerging Space Leaders who receive IAF grants to attend the IAC in Antalya.
Please send the nomination materials before 6 February 2026 23:59 (Paris time) to the IAF Secretariat by email at award@iafastro.org (Subject line: NOMINEE’S LAST NAME Nominee’s First Name-2026 YSL).
Past YSL Winners
2025 Winners
2024 Winners
Hamza HAMEED
Senior Practice Manager, Space & Connectivity, Access Partnership, Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)
Pakistan
2023 Winners
Bethany DOWNER
hief Science Communications Officer, Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes, European Space Agency
United States
2022 Winners
Ozan KARA
Senior Researcher, Propulsion and Space, Technology Innovation Institute
United Arab Emirates
Mariam NASEEM
Planetary Science Researcher, PhD Candidate, University of Maryland, College Park
Canada
2021 Winners
Marco GOMEZ-JENKINS
Royal Society of Edinburgh Enterprise Fellow, University of Cambridge
Costa Rica
Ayami KOJIMA
Unit Chief of International Affairs, National Space Policy Secretariat (NSPS)
2020 Winners
2019 Winners
2018 Winners
2017 Winners
Timiebi AGANABA JEANTY
Assistant Professor, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, Appointed at the Sandra Day O Connor College of Law, Arizona State University
United States
2016 Winners
Andrea BOYD
Deputy Lead of Astronaut Operations and EUROCOM, stationed at the European Astronaut Centre
Germany
2015 Winners
Ryan L. KOBRICK
Integrated Product Team Lead, Paragon Space Development Corporation
United States
Lulu MAKAPELA
Strategic Programmes Contracts Manager for SA-GEO, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
South Africa
2014 Winners
Yusuke MURAKI
Strategic Space Producer, Space Entertainment Promotion Office, Sony Group Corporation
Japan
