The human exploration programs traditionally funded by space agencies will see this decade a progressive evolution towards a combination of institutional programs and commercially funded programs. The human exploration activities and the research conducted in the International Space Stations (ISS) will be complemented by a number of commercially operated space stations.
In April 2022, Eytan Stibbe flew as the second Israeli astronaut to the ISS on board with the AX-1 mission , operated by AXIOM. He will tell a fascinating and moving story on his mission Rakia - 1 .
The AXIOM company and its plans for the future in orbit infrastructure will be presented by Tejpaul Bhatia. This presentation will show us how the inorbit infrastructure will evolve over the next few years, paying the way for commercially operated transport to space and use of space laboratories and facilities.
The next major European project 'SUSIE' (Smart Upper Stage for Innovative Exploration) for which feasibility studies will be proposed in the near future, will be presented by Joost van Tooren - project manager of ArianeGroup. This super exciting program is based on the Ariane 6 launcher adapted with a reusable upper stage for human and cargo transportation to space.
Bernardo Patti, ISS and Exploration Programme Manager at the European Space Agency, will provide a detailed insight in the Terrae Novae 2030 program with the many exploration activities that ESA is conducting or has planned in our Solar System, from the International Space Station to the Moon with the European Service Module and lunar Gateway modules for Artemis, and on to Mars with the Mars Sample Return campaign.