Sydney swapped skyscrapers for starships as the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2025 touched down, turning ICC into a launch zone where rockets loomed, rovers roamed, and the future of exploration unfolded aisle by aisle.
Under the banner “Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth,” innovations lifted off. And with our CEO Stan Kruss on the ground, we chased down the gear, grit, and genius fuelling the future of exploration.
Yokogawa: Mission Control in a Box
Our client Yokogawa put the unsung heroes of spaceflight on show: sensor modules, flow meters, and pressure transmitters that keep launches stable, rovers operational, and crews alive.
The standout: DTSX 3000, a temperature-sensing “nervous system” monitoring kilometres of cabling for launchpads and lunar mines. Beside it, the AQ6376E laser analyser proved why pinpoint signal testing is vital for deep-space communication.
South Australia Space Pavilion: Galactic Gateway Down Under
The South Australia pavilion swapped handouts for hands-on adventure. Visitors donned haptic vests and XR headsets to feel the rumble of launch and the float of microgravity.
The exhibit mapped a thriving ecosystem—from Whalers Way launchpads and satellite clusters to mission-control hubs and downstream data services—all built to make the state a southern gateway for payloads, partnerships, and planetary exploration.
Australian Space Agency: From Red Dust to Red Planet
Australia’s ambitions have hit escape velocity, and IAC was the launchpad. A re-entry capsule demonstrated payload return, a lunar rover prototype built for NASA’s Artemis program crunched through simulated regolith, and Space Machines Co.’s Orbital Transfer Vehicle impressed with its satellite-shifting capabilities.
The immersive “Going Up from Down Under” installation tied it all together, tracing a journey from ancient sky stories to a future among the planets.
Starlab Space: The Next Orbit-Ready Outpost
Next came a glimpse of our future address in orbit. Starlab, the commercial station built by Voyager, Airbus, Mitsubishi, MDA, Palantir, and Space Applications Services, showed off a full-scale mock-up that felt more habitat than exhibit.
Visitors explored crew-support systems, research racks, a Leidos galley, and MDA robotic arms—all signals of how science, life, and logistics will evolve in microgravity.
NASA: Artemis in the Flesh
NASA brought the Moon mission to the expo floor. The Artemis lunar lander, wrapped in gold insulation and fitted with modular bays, looked ready for launch.
Lightweight composites, solar arrays, and adaptable cargo systems give it a mission range, from scouting lunar resources to laying the foundations of a permanent outpost.
Crest Robotics: When Rovers Walk
Wheels are so last decade. Crest Robotics’ six-legged rover climbed craters and crossed slopes where traditional explorers would stall.
Built for resource scouting, soil science, and infrastructure deployment, this sci-fi spider-bot isn’t just exploring the Moon but preparing it for long-term human presence.
CAS Space: Orbit Access, Accelerated
China’s commercial launch scene took centre stage. CAS Space, the commercial arm of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, showed off its Kinetica rockets: rapid, low-cost launchers ready to fling satellites and science payloads into orbit at short notice.
Reusable boosters and vertical-landing tech are already in the works, signalling a new era in accessible spaceflight.
CASC: The Backbone of Big Missions
If CAS Space is China’s future, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is its present. The Long March fleet that powers Mars missions, crewed stations, and satellite constellations stood alongside SD-series launchers built for rapid deployment.
Historic achievements like Chang’e-5 and Tianwen-1 now set the stage for bolder milestones—from Chang’e-7’s lunar south-pole mission to Tianwen-2’s asteroid chase.
IAI: Israel’s Satellite Superpower
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) flexed satellite dominance with its OptSat constellation, delivering sub-metre imagery and rapid revisit times. Its AMOS platforms keep governments and broadband networks connected, while lightweight buses and deployable antennas push the limits of orbital agility.
Vast Space: Orbit-Ready Living
Vast Space posed the essential question: how do we actually live in orbit? A VR tour of Haven-1 let visitors experience day-to-day station life, while the zero-G Sleep System solved spaceflight’s toughest biological challenge: restful sleep.
Av-Comm: Earth’s Cosmic Connection
Every mission needs a lifeline, and Av-Comm is building it. Their precision-tracking ground antenna kept constellations communicating in real time, while rapid-deployment stations brought instant connectivity to disaster zones and remote locations.
Overall, IAC 2025 proved it: the next era of space exploration has already begun.