October 6, 2026
South Africa’s space sector is making its presence felt at the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, where the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) is hosting a record number of local companies at the SANSA Pavilion.
This year, 18 South African companies are exhibiting alongside SANSA, the largest national delegation the agency has brought to the congress. Ten of these companies travelled to Antalya with sponsorship from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic). The dtic also supports their market access efforts, helping small and emerging space businesses raise their profile internationally and grow their share of the global space economy.
The pavilion brings together the full range of South African space expertise. Visitors can see satellite engineering, Earth observation, space science, space weather and ground station services, and how South African companies and institutions are developing solutions for Africa and the world.
The pavilion sits directly opposite the Turkish industry pavilion, one of the busiest parts of the exhibition floor. That position has kept a steady stream of delegates, international partners and industry visitors coming to meet the South African exhibitors.
The past few days have been busy. Government representatives have visited the pavilion, along with members of South Africa’s wider space community who are attending the congress. Among them is the chair of the South African Council for Space Affairs, a former member of the SANSA Board. They have all helped present a united South African presence in Antalya.
The IAC is one of the most important events on the global space calendar. It brings space agencies, governments, industry leaders, researchers and innovators together from across the world. This year’s theme, “The world needs more space”, speaks directly to what South Africa brings to the congress. Our space capabilities support everyday needs, from tracking changes on the land and in the oceans to protecting technology from space weather. For SANSA and its industry partners, the IAC is a chance to turn visibility into real opportunities. Through its presence in Antalya, SANSA aims to drive economic growth in South Africa’s space sector. It also aims to build stronger partnerships with space agencies, governments and industry for the years ahead.
Watch this space for more updates from Antalya as the week unfolds.
