IAC 2026

Ahead of the International Astronautical Congress 2026, Chinese space companies are positioning themselves to expand their share of the global commercial space market. The push covers launch services, satellites and related space technology, as China's growing space industry seeks more international customers. Analysts and industry watchers are weighing what this means for competition with established US and European providers.

The fourth day of the International Astronautical Congress 2026 centred on military space commands, nuclear power for space applications, and governance frameworks for the Moon. Discussions highlighted how governments are organising dedicated space commands while nations weigh nuclear energy for lunar and deep-space missions, alongside growing debate over the legal rules governing lunar activities and resource use.

SpaceWatch.GLOBAL published a recap of day four of the International Astronautical Congress 2026, highlighting two dominant themes: the growing congestion of Earth's orbits and the push for open, interoperable interfaces in space systems. The recap captures discussions among delegates on managing traffic in orbit and standardising access across satellite platforms and missions.

The International Astronautical Federation has announced a Global Networking Forum session for the International Astronautical Congress 2026, titled 'The Space Economy: Structural Growth Engine or Strategic Hype?', with a focus on governance. The session will question whether the rapidly expanding space economy represents durable, structural growth or inflated expectations, and how it should be governed.

Coverage of day three of the International Astronautical Congress 2026 highlights two main storylines: European space organisations making preparations for the congress's Rome edition, and NASA announcing expanded open access to its data. Observers see the moves as part of broader efforts to boost international cooperation and transparency in the space sector, with agencies and industry following the proceedings closely.

At the International Astronautical Congress 2026, day two discussions centred on what will replace the International Space Station once it is retired at the end of the decade. Analysts and space professionals debated which stations, including commercial and national projects, could take over research operations in low Earth orbit, and what the transition means for international cooperation in space.

Spacewatch.Global has published a recap of day two of the International Astronautical Congress 2026, under the banner that sovereignty has become the new sales pitch in the space sector. The report suggests countries and companies are increasingly marketing space capabilities in terms of national independence and strategic autonomy rather than pure commercial value.

On day two of the International Astronautical Congress 2026, Türkiye presented its range of domestically developed space technologies, described by SpaceWatch.GLOBAL as a 'sovereign space stack'. The recap highlights Ankara's push to build an independent national space sector spanning satellites, launch and related infrastructure, drawing attention among international space policy observers.

SpaceWatch.GLOBAL has published a recap of day three of the International Astronautical Congress 2026, under the banner 'The Regions Speak Up'. The item highlights how regional space communities and delegations are making their perspectives heard at the congress, a key annual gathering of the global space sector. Further details of the day's sessions and speakers were not provided.

The International Astronautical Congress 2026 opened in Antalya, with day one coverage highlighting two parallel themes: growing international cooperation in space and countries' push to build sovereign space capabilities. Delegates and speakers framed national space autonomy and partnerships as complementary rather than competing goals, setting the tone for the week's discussions.

The International Astronautical Congress 2026 opened with China's capital making headlines away from the main stage. SpaceWatch.GLOBAL's recap of day one highlights that Beijing's activities on the side stage generated the most buzz, underscoring China's growing prominence in international space policy discussions at the world's largest annual space gathering.

ABB says it will present its measurement technologies aimed at making paper production more stable and efficient at MIAC 2026, the international exhibition for paper industry technology. The company positions the showcase as a way for paper mills to improve process control and output quality. Details of the specific products to be displayed have not yet been announced.