Objectives / Programme committee
Following nine editions of growing success, 3AF - Association Aéronautique et Astronautique de France, and Agencies, ESA, CNES and ASI are please to announce:
10th EDITION OF THE 3AF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SPACE PROPULSION
18-21 MAY 2026 - BARI, ITALY
"Challenging the scale economics and industrialisation for future propulsion in a competitive environment"
The tenth of a series of international conferences on technical and programmatic aspects related to the development and application of Space Propulsion technologies.
The SPACE PROPULSION Conference is the international forum supporting the preparation of future activities and roadmaps in all the fields of space propulsion.
During this edition, plenary roundtables will bring a specific focus on « Challenging the scale economics and industrialisation for future propulsion in a competitive environment ». As with the previous edition, EUCASS joins 3AF to organize a prospective session: “Reusable Propulsion as key factor for cost effective solutions”
The programme of the event highlights programmatic and technical issues and promotes exchange of views and information in the two main areas of propulsion for spacecraft and for space transportation.
More than 700 professionals from over 30 countries are expected at the event, including engineers and scientists from government, university and industry.
This event is a unique opportunity to discover innovative solutions and implement fruitful exchanges between colleagues of different countries and disciplines.
SPACE PROPULSION 2026 will be organized around:
- An opening day dedicated to plenary sessions and round tables during which agencies’ general directors, industry, integrators and equipment manufacturers will be invited to speak;
- Up to 4 days dedicated to technical presentations and plenary sessions;
- A hall reserved to sponsors and exhibitors to showcase their know-how and innovation and spotlight technical results, technologies and research. For optimum visibility during the event, this exhibition space is situated at the heart of the conference center;
TECHNICAL COMMITTEES
2 Technical Committees are working together in order to cover all the specific topics discussed during the Space Propulsion Conference:
- Spacecraft Propulsion Technical Committee,
co-presided by Olivier DUCHEMIN (Safran Spacecraft Propulsion), Jose GONZALEZ DEL AMO (ESA) & Ulrich GOTZIG (ArianeGroup)
- Propulsion for Space Transportation Technical Committee
co-presided by Adrien BOIRON (Maia Space), Enrico CAVALLINI (ASI) & Gilles VIGIER (3AF)
Jean-François GUERY (ArianeGroup), Jamila MANSOURI (ESA), Giorgio SACCOCCIA (3AF), as Conference Chairs, will oversee the technical content prepared in order to offer to the SP2026 Participants the more efficient, attractive and up to date programme regarding the recent advances in the field.
Spacecraft Propulsion Technical Committee - Co-President
Olivier DUCHEMIN, Safran Aircraft Engines, France
Jose GONZALEZ DEL AMO, ESA, The Netherlands
Ulrich GOTZIG, ArianeGroup GmbH, Germany
Spacecraft Propulsion Technical Committee
Simone ALFANO, CNES, France
Lahib BALIKA, TAS-UK, United Kingdom
Prashanth BANGALORE VENKATESH, Agiles Space Industries, United States
Laura BOUDENA, Safran Electronics & Defense, France
Joshua BRAYFORD, UK Space Agency, United Kingdom
Joe CASSADY, AEROJET, United States
Matt COATES, LMO, United Kingdom
Michele COLETTI, TAS-UK, United Kingdom
Ian COXHILL, Nammo, United Kingdom
Alain DEMAIRÉ, OHB Sweden, Sweden
Wilhelm DINGERTZ, ECAPS AB, Sweden
Victor FERNANDEZ VILLACE, ESA, The Netherlands
Mark FORD, ESA, The Netherlands
Roberto FORMARO, ASI, Italy
Alberto GARBAYO, URA Thrusters, United Kingdom
Tommaso GHIDINI, ESA,
Stephen GOODBURN, AIRBUS SAS, France
Stefan GREGUCCI, SITAEL, Italy
Hori KEICHI, Rocket Link Technology,
David KREJCI, Enpulsion, Austria
Chiara MANFLETTI, TUM, Germany
Jamila MANSOURI, ESA, France
Jordan MURRAY, URA Thrusters, United Kingdom
Taiichi NAGATA, JAXA, Japan
Denis PACKAN, ONERA, France
Chiara PERTOSA, SITAEL, Italy
Markus PEUKERT, OHB System AG, Germany
James POLK, James Polk, United States
Garri POPOV, RIAME, Russia
Giorgio SACCOCCIA, ESA European Space Agency, France
George SCHMIDT, NASA, United States
Shohei SHIIKI, IHI Aerospace, Japan
Johan STEELANT, ESA/ESTEC, The Netherlands
Julien VAUDOLON, EXOTRAIL, France
Raffaele VOTTA, ASI,
Zvika ZUCKERMAN, RAFAEL, Israel
Propulsion for Space Transportation Technical Committee - Co-President
Adrien Jacques BOIRON, MaiaSpace, France
Enrico CAVALLINI, ASI, Italy
Gilles VIGIER, 3AF, France
Propulsion for Space Transportation Technical Committee
Jérôme ANTHOINE, ONERA, France
Francesco BETTI, AVIO, Italy
Sébastien BIANCHI, Air Liquide Advanced Technologies, France
Didier BOURY, ArianeGroup, France
Jerome BRETEAU, ESA, France
Helmut CIEZKI, DLR, Germany
Elisa CLIQUET MORENO, 3AF, France
Marco DI CLEMENTE, italian space agency, Italy
Cedric DUPONT, Air Liquide Advanced Technologies, France
Andy FLOCK, DLR, Germany
André FUESER, ArianeGroup, Germany
Nathalie GIRARD, CNES, France
Emilio GORDON, Southwest Research Institute, United States
Jean-François GUERY, ArianeGroup, France
Ozan KARA, Technology Innovation Institute, United Arab Emirates
Hideto KAWASHIMA, JAXA, Japan
Nobuhiko KUMADA, MHI, Japan
Preetham MADDALI VENKATA LAKSHMI, Nammo Raufoss AS, Norway
Serguei MOSSOLOV, Keldysh Centre, Russia
V. NARAYANAN, LPSC - ISRO, India
Gérard ORDONNEAU, ONERA, France
Ulf PALMNÄS, SSC, Sweden
Daniela PEDRINI, SITAEL,
Mario PESSANA, TAS, Italy
Lilian PREVOST, CNES, France
Nicolas RUMEAU, Arianegroup, France
Stefan SCHLECHTRIEM, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
Dirk SCHNEIDER, ESA,
Vladimir SUDAKOV, NPO Energomash, Russia
Markus THIEL, ArianeGroup,
Marc VALÈS, Dassault Aviation, France
Martin VELANDER, GKN Aerospace, United Kingdom
Riheng ZHENG, Chinese Society Astronautics (CSA), China
Steering Committee
Marco DI CLEMENTE, italian space agency, Italy
Tommaso GHIDINI, ESA,
Jean-François GUERY, ArianeGroup, France
Didier Malet, 3AF, France
Jamila MANSOURI, ESA, France
Chiara PERTOSA, SITAEL, Italy
Giorgio SACCOCCIA, ESA European Space Agency, France