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International Disaster Charter, which shares free satellite images after disasters, wins 2026 IAF Award
In brief
Japan's space agency JAXA said on October 23, 2026, that the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters" has won the 2026 award of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). The Charter is an agreement under which space agencies around the world point their satellites at areas hit by big disasters and share the images and data free of charge with emergency teams. The award was presented at the opening ceremony of the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, Türkiye, on October 5.
How the Charter works
Set up in 2000, the Charter now has 17 member space agencies and satellite operators, with private satellite companies also contributing data. When a major disaster strikes, it works around the clock, every day of the year: optical and radar satellites from different countries take turns photographing the area. That helps responders map flooded land, spot landslides and ground movement after earthquakes and see how far fires have spread, things that are hard to measure from the ground. Because no single country has enough satellites passing overhead at the right time, sharing them means faster and more frequent pictures.
Japan's part
JAXA joined in 2005 and supplies data mainly from its Daichi (ALOS) Earth-observation satellites, while also helping run the Charter. The Charter has also helped Japan itself: it was activated, together with the Asia-Pacific Sentinel Asia network, after the January 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake and the July 2026 Kumamoto earthquake. JAXA said the award shows how much satellite data and international teamwork in space can help solve problems on the ground.
VSH take: Space news is often about rockets and far-off planets, so it is good to see a prize for something that quietly helps people on Earth. Free, shared satellite pictures are a rare example of countries cooperating without fuss. See our planet from orbit right now on Live Earth from space, test yourself with the space quiz, or compare times around the world with our world clock. Heading to Japan? Our flights hub and travel hub can help.
ViralScopeHub is an independent news summary site and is not affiliated with JAXA, the International Charter or the International Astronautical Federation. The image is a NASA visualization of Earth-observation satellites, not a Charter image.
Why it matters
Free satellite images help emergency teams see flooded areas, landslides and fires quickly, and the award recognises 25 years of countries sharing them.
People also ask
What is the International Charter 'Space and Major Disasters'?
It is an agreement, started in 2000, under which space agencies share satellite images and data free of charge with emergency teams after major disasters.
How many members does the Charter have?
As of October 2026 it has 17 member space agencies and satellite operators, plus private satellite companies that provide data.
Which award did it win?
The 2026 IAF Award from the International Astronautical Federation, presented in Antalya, Türkiye, on October 5, 2026.
Related free tools: World Clock, Sunrise & Sunset
Sources
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