Skip to main content

Space exploration starts with the dream, and the dream of space is born very early in human's life. To turn this dream into reality takes a lifelong learning, which begins at school.

To discuss the tasks and problems of space education on every level, from elementary school to postgrads, to bring together the key actors of space education community, Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI) hosts the conference "The Road to Space".

In 2026 the conference is scheduled for September 29 — October 2.

We are expecting school and college teachers, university educators, museum and planetaria workers, science journalists and communicators, and everyone engaged with space education and outreach on the conference.

The name of the conference brings us back to the First Man in Space, Yuri Gagarin and his famous book, known in the West as "Road to the Stars". The year 2026 marks the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's flight — the first space flight of the mankind.

Book of Abstracts is under revision and will be published later.

Following the decision made at the concluding discussion, we invite everyone to join a new VK group «АстроКосмический Актив» (literally AstroSpace Active).

General overview

29 September, Tuesday

  • 10:00–12:30 plenary session, conference hall
  • 14:00–18:00 splinter sessions (please, refer to the program)
  • 18:00–20:00 Under the Green Lamp. Meeting with Prof. Igor Barmin, the veteran of space and rocket industry

30 September,Wednesday

  • 10:30–13:00 opening ceremony
  • 13:20–14:00 FANK SciFilms Fest*, conference hall
  • 14:00–18:00 session of the Physics Sciences Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences

1 October, Thursday

  • 10:00–12:30 plenary session, conference hall
  • 14:00–18:00 splinter sessions (please, refer to the program)
  • 18:00–20:00 FANK SciFilms Fest*, conference hall

2 October, Friday

  • 10:00–13:00 plenary session, conference hall
  • 14:00–17:30 splinter sessions (please, refer to the program)
  • 17:30–19:00 discussion & wrap-up, conference hall

* ! FANK SciFilms Fest requires registration. Please, note that the registration and the films are in Russian. There will be no live broadcast. Please, note that the entrance is allowed for citizens of Russian Federation only.

Please, follow the updates on:

The conference is a part of IKI's Space Science Days, a series of events in October dedicated to the launch of Sputnik-1. Space Science Days are part of UN World Space Week on October 4–10.

Program Committee (preliminary)

  • Acad. Dr. Lev M. Zelenyi (IKI), Chair
  • Dr. Andrei M. Sadovski (IKI), Academic secretary
  • Dr. Igor V. Belokonov (SNRU)
  • Dr. Mikhail V. Gordin (BMSTU)
  • RAS Corr.Member Dr. Alexander A. Lutovinov (IKI)
  • Acad. Dr. Anatoly A. Petrukovich (IKI)

Local Organizing Committee

  • Acad. Dr. Lev M. Zelenyi (IKI), Chair
  • Dr. Andrei M. Sadovski (IKI), Vice Chair
  • Elena A. Antonenko (IKI)
  • Mikhail N. Boyarsky (IKI)
  • Anastasia V. Fateeva (IKI)
  • Dmitry A. Shishkin (BMSTU)
  • Anna Yu. Titova (IKI)
  • Dr. Olga V. Zakutnyaya (IKI)
  • Tatiana D. Zharkova (IKI)

LOC e-mail:  roadtospace@cosmos.ru

Address: Space Research Institute (IKI), Moscow, Profsoyuznaya str., 84/32, entrance А-4

How to get to IKI