At just six years old, young Gabrugal boy Franklin has his eyes set far beyond Earth, on the stars, the planets, and the infinite unknown of space.

Franklin is captivated by the idea of floating among the planets.

"You get to go up to space and see all the planets," he says with a grin that could light up the galaxy.

His fascination runs deep, with Saturn his favourite because "the rings are made of dust, ice and rocks".

With his trusty dog Molly, his teddy named Rubbles, and his endless curiosity, Franklin represents the next generation of explorers.

For First Nations peoples, space is not a distant frontier but part of an unbroken system of knowledge connecting sky, land, sea, and spirit. The stars and constellations are teachers, calendars, and maps, cultural signposts that have guided communities for tens of thousands of years. Sky Country is where ancestral beings live and where cultural law is written in the night sky.

As the world's brightest minds gathered for the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney last week, young dreamers like Franklin reminded everyone why the future of space starts with wonder.

Hosted by the Space Industry Association of Australia, the Congress brought together scientists, astronauts, and innovators from across the globe to celebrate collaboration, sustainability, and curiosity, and this year the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems took centre stage.

Over the past six months, leading Indigenous thinkers Professor Martin Nakata, Professor Deen Saunders, Professor Rueben Bolt and Mikaela Jade worked together to shape a body of work that brought diverse perspectives into one powerful dialogue.

The collaboration culminated in the Host Nation Plenary Beyond Integration: Building Earth Sky Knowledge Infrastructure for Co-Discovery in Space and Sustainability. Moderated by astrophysicist Kirsten Banks, the session brought together Enrico Palermo, Head of the Australian Space Agency, Professor Martin Nakata, Professor Reuben Bolt, David Perenara O'Connell and Dr Laurie Rousseau Nepton for a powerful conversation about the meeting of worlds.

Together, they explored how ancient wisdom and contemporary science can work side by side to deepen our understanding of the universe and reveal new patterns in the relationship between Earth and sky.

The discussions reminded everyone that space is not empty or without meaning, but alive and interconnected; deserving care, respect, and balance. It reinforced that caring for space begins with caring for Country, and that the knowledge systems which have guided First Nations peoples for millennia continue to hold the key to a sustainable future, both on Earth and beyond.

As one of the Indigenous strategic advisors to the plenary, Ms Jade reflected on how technology can help keep cultural stories at the heart of future space exploration.

"Space has always been part of First Nations knowledge systems, the stars are our maps, our calendars, our stories, our relatives," she said.

"What's exciting now is that we have the opportunity to bring that deep, place based knowledge into the space industry, not just as observers but as contributors and leaders.

"By connecting ancient wisdom with modern science, we're creating pathways for First Nations people to shape the future of space exploration in Australia from their own Country, on their own terms."

Professor Bolt, the first Indigenous person appointed as an Expert Scientific Member to the Prime Minister's National Science and Technology Council, shared how the sector is beginning to recognise the value of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems.

"As part of my role, I'm leading a national consultation process to implement the National Science and Research Priority Elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems," he said.

"We've engaged Indigenous stakeholders across the country including academics, grassroots community and Government, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

"An Indigenous focused priority is unique because Indigenous Knowledge is unique. It's grounded in place, developed over generations. The knowledge from Desert Country is different to coastal Country, which is different again to snow Country."

He added that universities have a vital role to play.

"They can help develop a critical mass of Indigenous academics across all disciplines, especially in STEM. This is where they must play a central and critical role."

Beyond the formalities, astronauts were invited to meet the local First Nations community, a gesture that turned into something deeply moving. What began as an opportunity for the community to meet the astronauts quickly became a moment of genuine exchange, where curiosity and culture flowed both ways. For the astronauts, it was grounding, a reminder that before reaching for the stars, one must first connect deeply with Country.

For Franklin, watching on with wide eyes, it was more than inspiration, it was possibility. He saw a future where imagination and science walk hand in hand, and where the stories written in the stars continue to guide new generations, from Sky Country to the cosmos and beyond.