AstroAid Foundation, Lewes, DE (2026)

08/02/2026

📢 The Call for Abstracts is officially open!

We invite researchers, practitioners, policymakers, innovators, and students to contribute to the AstroAid Global Summit 2026, taking place at METU in Ankara from 23–25 November.

We welcome research, case studies, policy proposals, technology demonstrations, and early-stage ideas across space technologies, AI, healthcare, humanitarian response, resilience, cybersecurity, and international collaboration - all aligned with our mission to democratize access to healthcare through space technology. 🌍🛰️

📝 Maximum: 350 words
⏳ Submission deadline: 10 September 2026, 23:59 EEST
🔗 Submit your abstract: https://forms.gle/ixEvMamvhEB8wNgB8

Help us move from ideas to impact. Share this call and tag someone whose work should be part of this global dialogue! 🚀

07/20/2026

🌕 On International Moon Day, we are delighted to officially open registration for the second edition of the AstroAid Virtual Forum 2026.

Following the success of our first edition, which welcomed 117 registrations from 36 countries and 56 cities, we are coming back this year with a new theme:

🚀 Space Innovation for Health Equity

Join us online on 14 & 15 September 2026 for two days of discussions, insights, and collaboration bringing together leaders and innovators from across space, healthcare, AI, policy, and humanitarian action.

🎟️ Registration is now open through Eventbrite:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/astroaid-virtual-forum-2026-space-innovation-for-health-equity-tickets-1992914909141

We look forward to welcoming you to another global conversation on how space innovation can help build a healthier and more equitable world.

07/13/2026

🚀 METU to Host the Inaugural AstroAid Global Summit 2026

We are delighted to announce that the inaugural AstroAid Global Summit will be hosted by Orta Dogu Teknik Universitesi - Middle East Technical University (METU) at the METU Culture and Convention Center in Ankara, Türkiye, from 23–25 November 2026.

Founded in 1956, Orta Dogu Teknik Universitesi - METU is one of Türkiye’s premier research universities and a globally recognized institution known for academic excellence, cutting-edge research, innovation, and international collaboration. With approximately 23,000 students from nearly 100 countries, English as the language of instruction, and a global alumni network of more than 160,000 graduates, METU continues to play a leading role in advancing science and technology.

🛰️ METU is advancing major space and research initiatives:

1️⃣ Leading the international CHERI project, developing AI-powered micro-rovers for deployment at the Moon’s South Pole as part of China’s Chang’e-8 lunar mission planned for 2028.
2️⃣ Supporting research that contributes to Türkiye’s growing human spaceflight and space science capabilities.
3️⃣ Establishing METU SPACE TECHNOPARK as a multidisciplinary initiative under Türkiye’s National Space Program.
4️⃣ Joining the Axiom Space University Consortium to strengthen international collaboration in microgravity research.
5️⃣ Driving next-generation research and innovation through the İVME-R Space and Accelerator Technologies Center.

Against this backdrop of scientific excellence, innovation, and international collaboration, the AstroAid Global Summit 2026 will bring together leaders from the space, healthcare, technology, policy, humanitarian, and academic communities to explore how space technologies can strengthen healthcare systems, build resilience, and improve lives on Earth.

Participants can expect three inspiring days of keynote addresses, high-level discussions, technical sessions, innovation showcases, networking opportunities, and strategic partnerships on one of the world’s leading research university campuses.

📍 Ankara, Türkiye
📅 23–25 November 2026
🏛️ Hosted by Orta Dogu Teknik Universitesi - Middle East Technical University (METU)

We look forward to welcoming the global AstroAid community to METU for this important milestone as we shape the future of space-enabled healthcare and international collaboration.

Special thanks to the president of Orta Dogu Teknik Universitesi - (METU), Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yozgatlıgil for providing us with this opportunity.

Orta Dogu Teknik Universitesi
ODTÜ Teknokent
TÜBİTAK
ODTÜ İklim l METU Climate

Österreichisches Weltraum Forum / Austrian Space Forum The Health Wagon

07/03/2026

🚀 Welcoming Lisa Vitaris, to the AstroAid Foundation Advisory Board

As we continue strengthening our global leadership team in preparation for the AstroAid Global Summit 2026, taking place this November in Ankara, Türkiye 🇹🇷, we are delighted to welcome Lisa Vitaris as a new member of the AstroAid Foundation Advisory Board.

🌍 Lisa is an internationally recognized space industry executive, strategic advisor, and entrepreneur with an outstanding track record of advancing international collaboration and innovation across the global space sector.

🛰️ As the CEO & Founder of Indo-Pacific Space, she leads an advisory and consulting practice dedicated to accelerating the growth of the Indo-Pacific's emerging space ecosystem. She also serves as Strategic Advisor, Indo-Pacific, and Bid Director for IAC 2029 Houston with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

🤝 Her leadership extends across numerous international organizations, including the Board of Engineers Australia, Monolith LLC, and Space4Climate, where she contributes to advancing engineering excellence, emerging space nations, and climate action through space.

🌐 A globally respected voice in the space sector, Lisa has presented at the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), COP30, and leading international forums spanning space, health, technology, mining, and innovation. She previously served as Interim CEO of the Space Industry Association of Australia (SIAA) and Director of IAC 2025 Sydney, helping deliver one of the most successful International Astronautical Congresses to date.

💡 With executive leadership experience across multiple industries and a strong commitment to sustainability through her initiative 10 Pieces, Lisa brings exceptional strategic insight, global perspective, and cross-sector expertise to our Advisory Board.

❤️ Her experience aligns strongly with AstroAid Foundation's mission to leverage space technologies for better healthcare, foster international collaboration, and drive sustainable impact worldwide.

We are honored to welcome Lisa to the AstroAid family and look forward to working together to advance our shared vision of using space for the benefit of humanity.

Welcome aboard, Lisa!

06/23/2026

Cairo delivered. 🌍

We were proud to be part of Africa Health ExCon 2026 - and honestly, it was one of those events that reminds you exactly why you do what you do.

The conversations around space technology and its real potential in healthcare were rich, honest, and full of possibility. This is at the heart of what AstroAid is building - using the power of space to make sure that healthcare is not a privilege. That someone in a remote village or a low-resource country gets the same fighting chance as anyone else.

We had a truly inspiring conversation with H.E. Dr Sherine Helmy, Chairman of Pharco Corporation - the work they are doing in Egypt and across Africa is remarkable, and we left that conversation with a lot of shared ground and exciting potential ahead.

A very special thank you to H.E. Prof. Dr. Maha El Rabbat, former Minister of Health and Population of Egypt for her incredible continued support and for providing us the huge access to Africa Health ExCon 2026.

And to every partner, health leader, and changemaker we met across those few days, thank you. The quality of people in that room gave us real hope.

We also took the opportunity to share something we are very excited about: the first ever AstroAid Global Summit - in partnership with Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi / Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, 23–25 November 2026. We are bringing the world together to shape how space technology can truly democratize access to healthcare for those who need it most. Stay tuned - more coming soon.

The work continues. 🚀

06/20/2026

🌍🚀 As the 69th Session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) comes to a close, we are proud to reflect on an inspiring and productive time in Vienna.

The AstroAid Foundation delegation had the privilege of engaging in meaningful discussions and knowledge exchanges with representatives from governments, space agencies, international organizations, academia, and industry from around the world. We were particularly encouraged by the strong interest shown in our mission of leveraging space technologies to improve healthcare accessibility, strengthen disaster response, and advance public health outcomes globally.

Throughout the session, we connected with numerous delegations and stakeholders from the Middle East, Latin America, and Europe, exploring new opportunities for collaboration and identifying areas where we can work together to transform innovative space solutions into tangible benefits for communities on Earth.

We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who took the time to meet with our delegation, share insights, and discuss future partnerships. The enthusiasm, support, and shared commitment to using space for the benefit of humanity reaffirm our belief that international cooperation remains the key to addressing global challenges.

We are excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to continuing these conversations in the months to come. We also warmly invite our colleagues, partners, and friends from across the global space and health communities to join us at the inaugural AstroAid Global Summit 2026, which will be hosted in partnership with the Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi / Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Türkiye, from 23–25 November 2026.

Together, we can strengthen the bridge between space and healthcare and ensure that innovation reaches those who need it most.

06/18/2026

AstroAid Foundation was honored to attend the International Space Summit 2026 in Daejeon, Republic of Korea.

Represented by our Legal Team Lead, Pelin Kurtaran, AstroAid had the opportunity to engage with professionals, researchers, government representatives, and organizations from across the global space sector, exploring new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

As the heart of South Korea’s science and technology ecosystem, Daejeon continues to establish itself as a leading space hub, bringing together academia, industry, startups, and government institutions. It was inspiring to witness the remarkable progress being made by the Korean government and space community in fostering innovation, strengthening international partnerships, and advancing the nation’s space ambitions.

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Professor Youngjung Park of Sungshin Women’s University for her invaluable support throughout the summit. Her guidance, introductions, and efforts in facilitating communication helped us build meaningful connections and effectively represent AstroAid Foundation during the event.

06/13/2026

🌍 We are excited to announce that we will be attending Africa Health ExCon 2026 in Cairo, Egypt this week!

Following the success of our first AstroAid CubeSats 4 Healthcare Workshop at Africa Health ExCon 2025, we are excited to return this year to reconnect with partners, engage with healthcare and space-sector leaders, and explore new opportunities to advance the role of space technologies in improving healthcare accessibility worldwide.

We look forward to meeting colleagues, collaborators, innovators, and decision-makers from across Africa and beyond as we continue building bridges between the space and healthcare communities.

📍 See you in Cairo!

If you will be attending Africa Health ExCon 2026 and would like to connect with the AstroAid team, feel free to reach out to us at: [email protected]

Together, we are leveraging space technology to make healthcare accessible for everyone.

06/10/2026

The AstroAid Foundation is proud to be participating in the 69th Session of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in Vienna, Austria.

Over the coming days, our delegation will engage with representatives from governments, space agencies, international organizations, academia, and industry as the global space community comes together to advance international cooperation and explore how space can continue to benefit humanity.

As an organization dedicated to leveraging space technologies to improve healthcare accessibility, strengthen disaster response, support public health monitoring, and drive sustainable development, we look forward to contributing to meaningful discussions and building new partnerships that can help translate innovation into real-world impact.

We are excited for the conversations ahead and look forward to sharing updates from COPUOS 2026.

06/08/2026

🚀 Announcement: Director of AstroAid Global Summit 2026

We are proud to announce Dr. Yulia Akisheva as the Summit Director of the first AstroAid Global Summit (AGS) 2026, taking place at the METU Culture and Convention Center, Ankara, on 23–25 November 2026 in partnership with Middle East Technical University - METU. 🤝

Dr. Akisheva is an aerospace engineer specializing in radiation protection of astronauts, with a strong commitment to improving the health and safety of crews on long-duration exploration missions. She holds three master’s degrees in aerospace disciplines from top European institutions and has been recognized with a national engineer’s award in France. Her international experience includes work with the European Space Agency and ROSCOSMOS, as well as teaching roles at several universities across Europe.

She is also the founder of Our Giant Leap Hackathon, where she pioneered the use of space technology to address gender inequalities on Earth 🌍✨ The latest edition of the hackathon focuses on women’s health and healthcare.

As an independent consultant on space projects, Dr. Akisheva also supports STEM professionals through communication coaching and active writing.

🎉 More exciting summit updates will be announced soon.
📝 Registration will open soon — stay tuned.

AstroAid Foundation

08/02/2026

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