(This article was originally published by Hello Estonians in Australia.)
Sydney, get ready—because from September 29th to October 3rd, 2025, the world’s space elite are landing in town for the 76th International Astronautical Congress (IAC). Astronauts, astrophysicists, rocket-builders, and dreamers from every corner of the globe will be talking satellites, Mars missions, and sustainable futures. And guess what? Estonia’s part of the crew.
A ten-member Estonian delegation is strapping in, bringing with them representatives from the Estonian Parliament and some of the country’s brightest space minds. Think: Tartu Observatory, Crystalspace, KuupKulgur, the Estonian Student Satellite Foundation, Moliri, and Enterprise Estonia.
It’s a line-up that proves Estonia isn’t just about singing festivals and bright minds—we’ve also got our eyes firmly fixed on the stars.
Mission Sydney Estonian House
On October 2nd, 2025, the delegation will touch down at the Sydney Estonian House. This one’s strictly invitation-only, but those lucky enough to nab a seat can expect mingling, snacks, drinks, and a film that’s practically rocket fuel for the imagination.
Sure, the ending wasn’t quite Hollywood (or was it?), but the grit, genius, and gall behind it will inspire anyone who’s ever tried to make the impossible fly.
The screening? “ESTCube-2.X: Ten Years to the Stars”—a documentary that tells the story of Estonia’s most ambitious satellite project. Spoiler alert: there were delays, disasters, and a pandemic thrown in for good measure. But against all odds, a team of brilliant students got ESTCube-2 into orbit. Sure, the ending wasn’t quite Hollywood (or was it?), but the grit, genius, and gall behind it will inspire anyone who’s ever tried to make the impossible fly.
About IAC 2025
This year’s IAC theme, “Sustainable Space: Resilient Earth”, is all about making sure our adventures in the cosmos don’t wreck the home planet. Hosted by the Space Industry Association of Australia, the Congress promises everything from heavyweight plenaries to Space Day – Powered by LEGO® Play (yes, really).
For Estonia, it’s not just about showing off satellites. It’s about proving that even a small country can punch above its orbital weight—and reminding the world that Estonians don’t just sing under the stars, we build the technology to get there.
Read more on iafastro.org, iac2025.org, and tudengisatelliit.ee .
