ESA/Foto Studio Hirch
The Ad Astra Summit 2025, held on April 03 at the European Space Operations Center (ESOC) in Darmstadt, attracted over 250 participants, bringing together space stakeholders, start-ups, academia, and political representatives for discussions on innovation in space travel.
Key Highlights of the event
Opening Keynote
Prof. Dr. Jan Wörner, Hessian Space Coordinator and former Director General of ESA, and Sabine S. Groth, Senior Ministerial Councilor and Head of the Office of the Hessian Space Coordinator, discussed security, resilience, and sustainability in space, providing insights into European space developments.
MainStage
The event featured a review of 35 years of the ESA Technology Transfer Programme, keynote speeches, and expert discussions on semiconductors and innovative data trust models.
Start-up Corner
This section of the event showcased young companies with product demonstrations and pitch battles, along with insights on ESA funding opportunities for start-ups from Bärbel Deisting.
Speaker Corner
This corner covered topics such as satellite navigation, gamification of space travel, and cybersecurity in mission operations.
Exhibition
ESA BIC Hessen start-ups exhibited in the ESOC winter garden, engaging with participants and high-ranking political representatives.
Astronaut Experience
ESA astronaut Dr. Thomas Reiter shared his experiences and visions for future space travel, engaging the audience with intriguing anecdotes.
Read the full report of the event