Bridging Eras: From Silk Road Astronomy to Lunar Exploration
Day: Tuesday 06 October
Time: 09:00 - 10:00
Location: D1, D2, and D3 - NEST Congress and Exhibition Centre
The global space sector is entering a structural transformation. Space is no longer defined solely by exploration milestones or isolated commercial ventures. It is increasingly shaped by how nations build end-to-end capability, secure reliable access, and contribute resilient infrastructure to the shared global ecosystem.
Over the past decade, a broader set of capable space actors has begun developing national capacity across satellites, deep-space missions, launch access, and commercial platforms. This shift is redefining industrial competitiveness, supply-chain resilience, and the balance of participation in global space activities.
As the host nation of IAC 2026, Türkiye offers a timely and concrete perspective on this transformation. Rooted in a rich scientific heritage and accelerated by sustained national investment, Türkiye has rapidly scaled its capabilities—from sovereign satellite development to deep-space ambitions—while fostering an expanding private space ecosystem.
This Host Plenary aims to move beyond national storytelling and instead open a strategic global discussion: How can nations build capability and access in space while strengthening—rather than fragmenting—the resilience, interoperability, and responsibility of the shared global ecosystem?
The session will connect three pillars: 1. Capability development through institutional missions such as the Turkish Lunar Mission (TLM-1), 2. Industrial competitiveness through major programmes such as TÜRKSAT-6A and next-generation satellite systems, and 3. Access infrastructure and commercial scalability through private initiatives, orbital transportation ambitions, and enabling infrastructure.
By bringing together national leadership, industrial actors, private sector innovators, and an international partner perspective, the plenary will examine what kind of space ecosystem is being built, who it serves, and what policy and industrial choices are required for durable and responsible growth.
