About iSpaRo

The International Conference on Space Robotics (iSpaRo), launched in 2024, is a new global forum dedicated to advances in space robotics. iSpaRo features presentations from both academia and industry, providing attendees with a comprehensive overview of the latest developments through oral and poster sessions, keynote talks, and workshops. The conference also aims to foster collaboration among researchers and industry professionals, with a strong emphasis on engaging the next generation of talent and encouraging future innovations.

The inaugural iSpaRo 2024, held in Luxembourg, was technically co-sponsored by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) through the Space Robotics Technical Committee (SRTC). The conference was a resounding success, attracting over 200 participants and featuring approximately 80 presentations. 56 proceedings from iSpaRo 2024 are now available in IEEE Xplore.

Following its success, the results of iSpaRo 2024 were presented at the RAS-TAB (Technical Activities Board) cluster meeting in October 2024, where the TAB members strongly endorsed the continuation of iSpaRo activities. The SRTC has recognized iSpaRo as a flagship conference, with key committee members actively contributing as General Chair and Publication Co-Chairs for future editions.

Following the successful launch, iSpaRo 2025 was held in Sendai, Japan, from 1–4 December 2025. The conference received more than 150 paper submissions, with 100 papers presented in 12 sessions, and over 350 participants attending. The iSpaRo 2025 was financially sponsored by the University Space Engineering Consortium (UNISEC), a non-profit organization in Japan, and again co-sponsored by the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society (RAS) through the Space Robotics Technical Committee (SRTC).

In 2026, for the first time, the international Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Automation in Space (i-SAIRAS) and the international Conference on Space Robotics (iSpaRo) will be held jointly at the conference and exhibition center Confex in Cologne, Germany, from 3–6 November 2026, covering the full spectrum of space robotics, from intelligent algorithms and autonomous systems to robotic platforms and mission applications.