SGAC Austria
National Points of Contact Austria
Welcome to the SGAC Austria homepage! Austria has a long and proud space tradition, from pioneering scientists like Erwin Schrödinger, Wolfgang Pauli, and Christian Doppler, who fundamentally changed our understanding of the universe. Austria became a full ESA member in 1987, and in 1991 Franz Viehböck became the first Austrian in space aboard the Mir station as part of the AUSTROMIR programme. Today, Vienna hosts UNOOSA, UN COPUOS, and the SGAC headquarters itself, placing Austria at the heart of global space governance. Building on this legacy, our mission is to inspire and empower Austria’s next space generation and connecting students and young professionals to the people, programs, and opportunities shaping the future of space.
This page is your gateway to the opportunities Austria offers the next space generation, from STEM education and academic research to entrepreneurship and
industry careers. Almost every Austrian university offers space-related courses, from space law to astrobiology, and student-led initiatives like the TU Space Team build their own rovers, satellites, and rockets. The Alpbach Summer School, the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), and AUSTROSPACE provide further pathways for hands-on experience and professional networking. Vienna’s unique position as host of UNOOSA, UN COPUOS, ESPI, and the SGAC headquarters gives Austrian members unparalleled access to international space policy and diplomacy. Beyond research and academic career paths, Austria’s space ecosystem is increasingly entrepreneurial. A growing number of NewSpace startups are emerging across satellite technology, in-orbit services, and downstream applications – creating exciting opportunities for young professionals to launch ventures, join early-stage teams, or shape the commercial space economy. Our focus as country team is to connect students and young professionals not only to research and academic programs, but also to the entrepreneurs, investors, and industry players driving Austria’s space economy forward.
Young Space Activities Overview in Austria
Students and young professionals highly benefit from the numerous space related organisations and activities in Austria. The SGAC Austria serves as a networking base for a number of national groups and associations. In our efforts, we highly benefit from the proximity to the United Nations Office in Vienna, which handles all of the UN space work, and to the various other international space-related organizations headquartered in Vienna. SGAC members are allowed to attend the UN COPUOS meetings, which are held in June each year. Please feel free to visit the SGAC headquarters at Schwarzenbergplatz 6 in the third district of Vienna and don’t forget to drop by at ESPI, the European Space Policy Institute, which is located in the same building. Besides SGAC and ESPI, you should check out the Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), a network of space professionals and enthusiasts who work on a space rover and suite for Mars exploration. Almost all universities in Austria offer space related courses in their curricula, from space law to space biology. The student clubs, such as the TU Space Team located in Vienna, provide important networks and opportunities and create their own landers, rovers and satellites. The Alpbach Summer School offers students further valuable possibilities to foster the practical application of their knowledge of space sciences. The Museum of Technology, the Museum of Natural History, the Planetarium Vienna and the Urania Planetarium regularly host public space related exhibitions and other events in Vienna. If you are interested in space industries you should check out the webpage of the Association of Austrian Space Industries (AUSTROSPACE) or of the Aeronautics and Space Agency (FGG). Please feel free to contact the NPoC in Austria to get more information about the current space events and activities around you.
Country-Specific Events in 2026
Vienna Space Evenings Coming soon!
Summer School Alpbach
Would you like to use engineering and/or science to address solutions to problems that can be addressed by space missions? If yes, consider applying to the Summer School Alpbach. Each year, sixty European engineering and science students are chosen to participate in the Summer School Alpbach, a ten day learning opportunity held in the beautiful Austrian Alps. Accepted participants will be engaged in an in-depth learning experience. Over ten days participants will attend stimulating lectures on various aspects of space science and technology and will work intensely within a smaller group to define and design a space mission, all under the supervision of noted scientific and engineering experts within the field.
Interesting Web Links for the Young Generation in Austria
- Austria’s main platform for all things space, covering events, news, funding opportunities, and scholarships.
- Austria’s industrial association representing the Austrian space industry.
- The Austrian Space Agency at FFG, the national agency managing space funding programmes and ESA participation.
- The Summer School Alpbach, an annual programme offering students hands-on experience in space mission design and engineering.
