NASA sets out Artemis, science and space technology sessions for Antalya congress
NASA has named its delegation and planned appearances at the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya from October 5 to 9, including an Artemis II lunar science presentation.
NASA announced on September 29 that Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will lead its delegation to the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, Türkiye, from October 5 to 9. The agency’s planned appearances cover Artemis II, the Artemis Accords, Earth observation and space technology, giving attendees a timetable for NASA’s contributions to the five-day gathering.
NASA says its delegation will join plenary sessions, technical discussions and media engagements. The agency describes Moon and Mars exploration, science, cooperation under the Artemis Accords and support for commercial space as its main themes. The schedule is an announcement of planned appearances; it does not establish what speakers will ultimately say or what findings they will present.
NASA’s Artemis II and Artemis Accords schedule
The first day, Monday, October 5, includes a session with heads of space agencies featuring Anderson at 10 a.m. Türkiye time. Later that day, at 4:30 p.m., Karen St. Germain, director of NASA’s Earth Science Division, is listed to give a keynote on cooperation in Earth observation using international and commercial fleets and faster mission development.
On Tuesday, October 6, NASA lists Artemis program manager Jeremy Parsons for a session titled ‘Artemis II Mission Results: The Industry Perspective’ at 11:45 a.m. Türkiye time. That title identifies the subject of the planned session; NASA’s advisory provides no account of the results Parsons may discuss.
Wednesday, October 7, brings two further Artemis-related entries. At noon Türkiye time, Anderson is scheduled to join Major General Roberto Melgar Sheen, director of the Peruvian Space Agency, CONIDA, for an Artemis Accords news conference. NASA identifies responsible exploration under the accords as one of its broader priorities for the congress, but the advisory does not set out an outcome for that conference.
NASA also schedules an ‘Artemis II Preliminary Lunar Science Release’ for 4:35 p.m. Türkiye time on October 7. The listed speakers are Anderson; Lori Glaze, an associate administrator in NASA’s Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate; Nicky Fox, an associate administrator in its Science Mission Directorate; and Artemis II lunar science lead Kelsey Young. The announcement names the event without providing the preliminary findings, so their content remains to be established when the presentation takes place.
Earth observation, Mars AI and space research sessions
NASA’s Wednesday program extends beyond Artemis. Fathi Karouia, a senior research scientist at the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science and NASA’s Ames Research Center, is listed for a 10:15 a.m. session on space manufacturing, biotechnology, advanced materials and human exploration. St. Germain is scheduled for a second Earth-observation session at 11:35 a.m., this one focused on the step from observation to decisions.
At 3 p.m. Türkiye time that day, Steve Chien of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is due to appear in a session called ‘Trusted AI on Mars.’ NASA names the session and speaker but gives no further account of the technology or any mission decision to be announced there. The listing places artificial intelligence alongside the agency’s exploration and Earth science topics in its congress program.
On Thursday, October 8, Lisa Carnell, a division director in NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences program, is scheduled for a 5:45 p.m. session on organ-chip research in space and precision health. On Friday, October 9, astronaut Chris Williams is listed to speak at NASA’s exhibit at 10 a.m. in a session titled ‘What It’s Like to Be an Astronaut.’
Where the Antalya congress takes place and how to follow it
The International Astronautical Federation organizes the congress, which is hosted this year by the Turkish Space Agency and co-hosted by SAHA İstanbul, according to the congress website. The organizer says this is the first International Astronautical Congress held in Türkiye. Its theme, ‘The World Needs More Space,’ frames a program concerned with exploration, technology and international cooperation.
NASA says its exhibit will be in Hall 1 at the NEST Convention Centre. The agency plans displays on its exploration work, a U.S. Freedom 250 commemoration and American activity in space, science and technology. The congress website identifies NEST as the event venue in Antalya, placing the exhibit and the listed sessions within the same congress setting.
The organizer says the congress will open to the public at NEST on its final day, Friday, October 9. It has yet to publish full details of that public-day program. NASA says select events can be watched on the International Astronautical Federation’s YouTube channel, though its advisory does not specify which of its listed appearances will be streamed. It says a full congress agenda is available online to registered media.
Sources and context
- NASA Features Exploration, Science at International Space ConferenceNASA
- IAC 2026 AntalyaInternational Astronautical Congress 2026 / International Astronautical Federation
- Public DayInternational Astronautical Congress 2026 / International Astronautical Federation
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.
About NewsJaws Desk
AI-assisted reporting and explainers reviewed against the linked source documents. No claim of on-scene reporting or original interviews.