3rd Annual
GSA International Spaceport Forum – Antalya, Türkiye
Advancing Spaceport Development
and Operations through Global Collaboration
Event Details:
WHERE:
Susesi Luxury Resort, İskele Mevkii, Belek, 07450 Serik/Antalya, Türkiye. The venue is a short walk from the 77th International Astronautical Congress, which is being held at the NEST Convention Centre, from October 5-9.
WHEN:
Oct 4, 2026 from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
TICKETS:
GSA Member – $295 (contact GSA for a code)
Non-Member – $450
Registration includes a buffet lunch and morning and afternoon breaks.
This forum will bring together leaders from spaceports, government, industry, and academia to explore critical challenges and opportunities, including:
- The economic value of spaceports to a community, region, and country
- Global Rapid Transport, including point-to-point transportation through space
- Advancing inland spaceports and offshore platforms
- Support for Commercial Space Stations and the NASA Moon Base
- Development of safety and interoperability standards
- International collaboration in developing space rescue capabilities
Who should attend:
- Spaceport executives and planners
- Government agencies and regulatory officials
- Aerospace industry leaders
- Academic researchers and policy experts
- Professionals from the legal, financial, and venture capital communities
- Key international space organization representatives
If you have any questions, please contact us.
If you are military or other defense and have trouble registering, please contact us directly.
Keynote Speakers
George C. Nield
Chairman
Global Spaceport Alliance
(Moderator)
Melchor Antuñano
Chief Technologist & Medical Innovation Officer
University of Central Florida
Tuva Cihangir Atasever
Astronaut
Turkish Space Agency
Meganne Christian, FRAeS
Reserve Astronaut
European Space Agency
(Invited)
Greg Autry
Senior Advisor for Space
U.S. Department of State
Growing the Space Economy
According to the Space Foundation, the Global Space Economy now totals over $613 billion, and there is a strong consensus among economists and financial experts that it will exceed $1 trillion in just the next few years. Recognizing that spaceports are not just places from which to launch rockets, they can also serve as focal points and technology hubs that conduct a variety of activities. Much of the projected economic growth could take place at or near spaceports. What kinds of activities would make the most sense, and how can communities with spaceports contribute to, and benefit from, the expected growth?
Natalia Larrea Brito
Senior Director, Space
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Moderator)
Diane Howard
Principal
sur l’espace PLLC
and Former Director
Commercial Space Policy at National Space Council
Stacey Zee
Director, Office of Spaceports
FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation
Eric Stallmer
Executive Vice President
Global Gov. Affairs
Voyager Technologies
Rose Croshier
Office of Space Commerce
U.S. Department of Commerce
Getting to Space and Back
Getting to space and back can be a complex process with many stakeholders involved. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation is responsible for licensing and regulating commercial launches and reentries. The recently updated National Space Transportation Policy establishes a goal of being able to support more than 1,000 launches and reentries every year by 2030. Is that even possible, and what role could the growing global network of spaceports play in meeting future demand?
What kinds of launch and reentry vehicles do we expect will be operational in the next decade and beyond? How can spaceports around the world prepare for increased launch and reentry activity, including vehicles that may operate across national borders? And how can we be prepared to respond in the event of a mishap during launch or reentry if there are astronauts onboard?
Minh Nguyen
Deputy Associate Administrator
FAA Office of
Commercial Space Transportation
Jeff Feige
Chief Revenue Officer
Radian Aerospace
(Invited)
Dana Baki
Chief Commercial
& MENA Officer
The Exploration Company
(Invited)
Shane Smith
Co-Founder
& Chief Financial Officer
Operator Solutions
Commercial Destinations in Space
Once the International Space Station has been retired, it will likely be replaced by one or more commercially developed destinations in low Earth orbit. What will they look like, what capabilities will they have, and who will be their primary customers? Can these commercial space stations be financially viable with the government serving as just one of many customers?
Jamie Morin
Vice President of Defense Strategic Space
and Executive Director of the Center for Space Policy and Strategy
The Aerospace Corporation
(Moderator)
Marshall Smith
CEO
Starlab
Jacki Cortese
Vice President of Civil Space
Blue Origin
Max Haot
CEO
Vast
(Invited)
Jared Stout
Chief Strategy Officer
Axiom Space
Legal & Regulatory Challenges
As commercial space activity expands across borders and into new markets, legal and regulatory frameworks will need to evolve alongside the industry. Many of the questions raised extend beyond any one nation’s regulatory systems. For example, are new regulations required to enable point-to-point transportation through space, both for cargo and for people? Given the proliferation of mega-constellations, what options are available to limit the generation of orbital debris? What international legal issues could emerge with the operation of commercial space stations, once they replace the ISS? And is now the right time to start talking about keep-out zones and space rescues on the Moon?
Lauren Coumbe
Strategic Engagement Executive – Space
ADS
(Moderator)
Daljit Sahota
Head of Commercial Spaceflight
UK Department for Transport
Melissa Force
General Counsel
Spaceport America
Giovanni Di Antonio, FRAeS
Director of Technological Innovation
ENAC, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority
(Invited)
Michael Mineiro
Shareholder,
Space & Satellite Group
Greenberg Traurig
International Collaboration
Commercial space operations are becoming increasingly global. That means international collaboration will be essential in building a safe, interconnected, and sustainable space economy. Government and industry leaders; regulators; launch, reentry, and in-space operators; spaceports; and international organizations will need to determine where cooperation can have the greatest impact and how those relationships should be structured.
If we want to encourage international collaboration in space, is it better to start with bilateral agreements or to work through groups like the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, or the International Civil Aviation Organization? What role can industry-led agreements and partnerships play alongside government efforts? What is the Washington Compact, and what is it designed to accomplish? What’s going on with the International Space University, and should we expect to see any changes in its operation in the coming years?
Bob Richards
Founder & Trustee International Space University
Valda Vikmanis
Director
Office of Space Affairs
U.S. Dept. of State