Airbus, TÜBİTAK explore joint space, moon missions

Carlo Mirra, Director of Sales at Airbus Defence and Space Corporate Business Growth and Business Development, made evaluations to AA regarding the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026). Hosted by the Turkish Space Agency (TUA), co-hosted by SAHA Istanbul, and coordinated by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the event will take place on October 5–9 at the Antalya NEST Congress Center, with AA serving as its Global Communication Partner.

Expressing that he has never been to Antalya before, Mirra said, "I am excited to come to Antalya. I am excited about the location, the culture, the event itself, and the ceremony. Because this gives me a sense of pride, and I am very happy that my efforts are being recognized after so many years of hard work."

Mirra shared that he began working with the IAC and the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in 1989, noting that he has frequently taken on leadership positions across many of the federation's technical and administrative committees over nearly 40 years, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

Stating that he currently serves as the Chair of the Federation's Industry Relations Committee, Mirra mentioned that he has been inducted into the "Hall of Fame"—a prestigious and select list reserved for individuals worldwide who have dedicated their lives to space studies, astronautical science, and inspiring future generations.

Pointing out that he is responsible for European Space Agency (ESA) business relations at Airbus, Mirra added:

"Although I have international business experience, particularly in the US, I am currently primarily focused on European business. Nevertheless, we are tracking the rapid growth of political interest and industrial capacity in Türkiye from here. Our company has been operating in Türkiye for a long time. The announcement of the National Space Program, the space plan, astronaut flights, and the goal of achieving independent access to space are all significant signals from Türkiye's current political leadership regarding local industry development and standing out on the international stage. The IAC is definitely a fantastic launching pad for this, as we expect around 10,000 people to attend in Antalya. This event serves as a truly strategic launchpad for the local ecosystem in several ways. I noticed that over 1,800 abstracts were submitted to the technical congress by Turkish institutions, which is a very high number. This provides a direct channel for Turkish researchers and industrialists to present their technologies and progress to a truly international audience. From green propulsion systems to small satellite architectures, it will be a highly fruitful environment for exchanging ideas."

"You Have the Workforce to Develop This Capacity" Highlighting access to the supply chain, Mirra noted that established Turkish companies and newly founded startups will share stages and halls with numerous international prime contractors and investors. He stated that this proximity will help share competencies, offer solutions, and potentially lead to commercial agreements with international actors.

Emphasizing that the most important issue is "space diplomacy leadership," Mirra recorded:

"Hosting an event as significant as the IAC sends a message of commitment and reliability regarding operating in the global arena. Türkiye is truly determined to play an important role in this field, as proven by its organizational capability and investments in these events. I believe this sends a very strong message toward strengthening existing relations and establishing new ones in terms of international cooperation, space sustainability, and security. Türkiye has a population of 85 million, and I came across data indicating the average age is 33. This situation is the exact opposite of the rest of Europe. Therefore, this represents extraordinary potential for nurturing the space engineers and scientists of the next decade. You have the workforce to develop this capacity. In Europe, we face challenges as the population ages rapidly. While we have ambitious program targets, the difficulty lies in finding and training qualified engineers—partly due to a declining population. Thus, Türkiye's capability to sustain its current economic goals is directly supported by its ability to raise a strong, competent, and motivated generation of specialists. I am confident that a conference like the IAC will have a very positive impact, especially on students and younger generations. This is exceptionally important."

Working on Cooperation Opportunities Mirra mentioned that he currently has colleagues in Ankara working out of their permanent office on various collaboration opportunities, expressing confidence that they can evaluate mutual experiences in a more partnership-oriented format.

Pointing to Türkiye's growing capabilities in space, Mirra provided the following insight into areas where direct collaboration and participation are possible:

"We are currently in discussions with TÜBİTAK regarding potential cooperation opportunities. One of these areas is undoubtedly space exploration, particularly lunar exploration. Human spaceflight and satellite communications are other key areas. As you know, we have a foundation built through the Türksat program. I believe Airbus contributed to the development and acceleration of Turkish industrial capabilities through the Türksat program. This is a relationship we want to maintain and, if possible, expand further. We can achieve this both through industrial cooperation and intergovernmental partnerships. For instance, if Türkiye reaches an agreement with the European Commission, ESA, or one of Airbus's founding nations—France, Germany, Spain, or the United Kingdom—that would be a development of great interest to us. Therefore, we are following developments in this area with close attention."

Photo: Chat GPT