The 69th anniversary of the Space Age falls on October 4, 2026, marking the day in 1957 when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite. The milestone is being commemorated globally as part of World Space Week, a UN-designated observance that runs through October 10. Events include the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, Türkiye, where NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson is scheduled to attend. The conference, themed “The World Needs More Space,” will feature live-streamed sessions despite a seven-hour time difference affecting U.S. viewers. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher is also set to speak during a session beginning at 3:00 a.m. ET on Monday, with his remarks broadcast on ESA TV.

At the International Space Station, Crew-12 is preparing for return later this week. Commander Jessica Meir transferred leadership to Roscosmos’ Pyotr Dubrov on October 4, concluding a tenure that began on July 25. The handover included an in-orbit “huggle,” a blend of a hug and huddle, involving all 11 crew members. Crew-12 — comprising Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot, and Andrey Fedyaev — will undock early Wednesday morning EDT and splash down Thursday just before noon EDT. They will be succeeded by Crew-13, including Jessica Watkins, Luke Delaney, Josh Kutryk, and Anil Menon, who will remain aboard.

On October 7, NASA will host a virtual Lunar Surface Science Workshop to release data collected during the Artemis II mission in April 2026. The timing aligns with the 67th anniversary of the first images of the Moon’s far side, captured by the Soviet Luna 3 probe in 1959. Kelsey Young, Artemis II Lunar Science Lead at NASA Goddard, will present findings during the session, which runs from 11:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. ET. The dataset includes lunar farside imagery taken by the Artemis II crew on April 6, 2026, showing Earth setting behind the Moon’s surface.

Legislatively, both the House and Senate are in recess until after the November 3 midterm elections, with only pro forma sessions scheduled. No space-related bills passed last week, and major legislative action — including potential NASA authorization, commercial space reforms, and components of the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act — is expected during the lame-duck session. The current continuing resolution funds government operations through December 11, 2026. Full congressional return is anticipated on November 9, with adjournment likely by mid-December. A new NASA authorization act and related policy measures remain pending.

Additional events this week include a public lecture by Marilyn J. Smith on “Rotorcraft–the New Frontier in Extraplanetary Exploration,” hosted by the AIAA and NAE as part of the Yvonne C. Brill Lectureship series. Smith, director of the Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence at Georgia Tech, played a key role in the development of the Ingenuity helicopter and is now leading work on the Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan. The lecture will take place in Washington, D.C., and online at 1:00 p.m. ET on Monday, October 5.

Updates and schedule changes will be tracked through SpacePolicyOnline.com’s calendar.