By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The Kenya Space Agency has called for fair and equitable
access to finite space orbital resources and greater sharing of real-time
orbital tracking data as countries work to ensure sustainable and resilient
space operations.
The Director General of the Kenya Space Agency, Major General
Hillary Kipkosgey, made the call during the 3rd IAF Global Space Leaders’
Summit held as part of the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026)
in Antalya, Türkiye.
Major General Hillary Kipkosgey highlighted the need to
ensure fair and equitable access for all nations to finite space orbital
resources such as the spectrum.
He also pointed to the increasing physical hazards posed by
uncoordinated space debris and said space players must prioritize Space Domain
Awareness (SDA) and robust data sharing to achieve sustainable space operations
and orbital resilience.
To support these efforts, he reiterated the critical need for
emerging spacefaring countries to have open, transparent, and real-time access
to orbital tracking data and infrastructure.
The Kenya Space Agency is participating in IAC 2026, which is
taking place in Antalya, Türkiye, from October 5 to 9 under the theme "The
World Needs More Space."
The global congress brings together leaders from political,
government and aerospace industry as well as scientists, researchers and space
enthusiasts from the international space community.
The opening of the congress was graced by His Excellency
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Türkiye, who called for
greater collaborations among nations and adherence to United Nations treaties
and principles of international space governance.
He reaffirmed the core principles of international space law,
emphasizing the non-appropriation of outer space, its protection as the
province of all humankind, and the global commitment and collaboration to
ensure that outer space is safe, secure sustainable and peaceful.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also urged representatives of
nations present to consider signing onto the Antalya Declaration, which seeks
to assure fair and equitable access to space for all nations and for the
benefit of all humanity.
The
discussions at IAC 2026 highlight the growing emphasis on international
cooperation, responsible use of orbital resources and access to space
infrastructure as more countries develop space capabilities.
