WELCOME 

Join us in Bordeaux for the 17^th International Symposium on Materials in the Space Environment (ISMSE) and the 15^th International Conference on Protection of Materials in Space Environment (ICPMSE), organised by CNES in partnership with ESA, ONERA and our industrial partner ITL.

For more than four decades, this conference series has brought together the international community of scientists, engineers and industry experts dedicated to understanding and mastering the behaviour of materials in space and extreme environments. The 2026 edition will be hosted at the iconic Cité du Vin, in the heart of Bordeaux, providing an inspiring setting for high-level scientific exchange from the 5^th to 9^th of October 2026 .

The conference will address the fundamental and applied aspects of materials exposed to:

⇒ Space environments and extreme conditions
⇒ Ground-based specific environments and testing constraints
⇒ Flight experiments and in-orbit return of experience
⇒ Contamination phenomena and cleanliness control
⇒ Materials, processes and “clean space” approachesParticular emphasis will be placed on the effects of space and extreme environments on materials performance, durability and reliability, including synergistic effects (atomic oxygen, radiation, UV, thermal cycling, vacuum, micrometeoroids and debris).

Dedicated sessions will focus on contamination physics, molecular transport and deposition, mitigation strategies, and the development of advanced materials and surface treatments for harsh environments.

We also encourage contributions addressing emerging challenges such as:

• Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) and planetary environments
• Advanced ground simulation techniques
• Novel materials and manufacturing processes
• Digitalisation, modelling, data-driven approaches and AI-assisted materials engineering
• Clean Space strategies and environmentally responsible technologies