Japan to host GLEX 2028 space conference

Japan has reached an agreement with the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) to host the IAF Global Space Exploration Conference (GLEX 2028) from May 16 to 18, 2028.

The agreement was signed during the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026), organized by the IAF and held at the NEST Congress Center in Antalya under the coordination of Türkiye’s Ministry of Industry and Technology and hosted by the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) and SAHA Istanbul. Anadolu Agency is serving as the event’s Global Communication Partner, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

Under the agreement, GLEX 2028 will take place at Aichi Sky Expo in Japan.

IAF President Gabriella Arrigo said the federation looked forward to working closely with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and IAF members to turn the event into a truly global summit for the space exploration community.

Arrigo said the memorandum of understanding signed between the IAF and JAXA establishes the formal basis for cooperation in organizing GLEX 2028.

“We are delighted to mark this important milestone here at IAC 2026 in Antalya. Space exploration is one of the fundamental pillars of the space sector. It brings together science, technology, engineering, human determination and, perhaps most importantly, international cooperation,” Arrigo said.

She said GLEX 2028 will feature opening and closing ceremonies, plenary sessions, the IAF Global Networking Forum, technical sessions, an exhibition area, social events and participation from the IAF International Astronaut Chapter.

According to Arrigo, preparations for the program are already underway, with the coming months expected to focus on determining the conference theme, appointing co-chairs of the International Programme Committee, establishing the committee and developing the technical framework.

“We look forward to productive and close cooperation with our colleagues at JAXA and are excited to welcome the entire global space community to Japan from May 16 to 18, 2028,” she added.

Focus on international cooperation

JAXA President Hiroshi Yamakawa highlighted Japan’s recent achievements in space exploration, including the successful 2024 Moon landing of the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), which demonstrated unprecedented precision landing capabilities.

Yamakawa said the technology would be crucial for future lunar and planetary exploration missions.

Japan and JAXA are also advancing sustainable exploration through projects including the Lunar Polar Exploration (LUPEX) mission, conducted in cooperation with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and other partners, as well as the development of a pressurized lunar rover for activities on the Moon’s surface.

These projects are also expected to play significant roles in NASA-led Artemis and Moon to Mars programs, he said.

Yamakawa added that the launch of the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission is planned for later this month, with the goal of returning the first samples from a Martian moon to Earth in close cooperation with international partners.

He stressed that such missions demonstrate the inherently international nature of space exploration.

“To expand the reach of human activity and find answers to humanity’s shared questions, we must bring together the knowledge, technology and capabilities of people around the world,” Yamakawa said.

Looking ahead, he said continued progress in space exploration would require not only international cooperation but also strong partnerships among governments, academia and industry.

“JAXA remains firmly committed to deepening these partnerships and serving as a bridge within the global space community. Through GLEX 2028, together with the IAF, we hope to contribute to a new era of sustainable exploration and space science. We are excited to welcome you all to Aichi, Nagoya, in May 2028,” he added.

Photo: Chat GPT