International Astronautical Congress

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61st International Astronautical Congress in Prague, Czech Republic (2010) IAC 2010 - Exhibition.jpg
61st International Astronautical Congress in Prague, Czech Republic (2010)
International Astronautical Congress
Vice President Pence at the 2019 International Astronautical Congress Opening Ceremony (48943045288).jpg
Opening ceremony of the 70th International Astronautical Congress in Washington, D.C. in 2019
StatusActive
GenreConference
FrequencyAnnually
Years active73–74
Website www.iafastro.org/events/iac/

The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) is an annual meeting of the actors in the discipline of space science. It is hosted by one of the national society members of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), with the support of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and the International Institute of Space Law (IISL). It consists of plenary sessions, lectures and meetings. The IAC is attended by the agency heads and senior executives of the world's space agencies.

Contents

As the Second World War came to an end, the United States and the Soviet Union held different and competing political worldviews. As the Cold War began to take shape, communication between the two countries became less frequent. Both countries turned their focus to achieving military superiority over the other.

Six years after the Iron Curtain fell, the IAF was formed by scientists from all over Europe in the field of space research in order to collaborate once more. During the years of the Space Race, the IAF was one of the few forums where members of both East and West Europe could meet during the annual IAC. [1]

Founding Organizations

International Astronautical Federation Governance

The International Astronautical Federation is a non-profit non-governmental organization created in 1951. Under French law, the IAF is defined as a federation of member organizations where a General Assembly is responsible for making decisions.

IAF General Assembly

The IAF General Assembly is in charge of governing the Federation. Composed of delegates from every member organization, the assembly is responsible for voting to approve all major decisions regarding the Federation's rules and regulations as well as the acceptance of new member organizations. The General Assembly meets during the International Astronautical Congress. [2]

IAF Bureau

The IAF Bureau sets the agenda of the IAF General Assembly, including: review of new member candidates; supervision of IAF activities; and supervision of IAF accounts. It is made up of:

  • The IAF President
  • The Incoming IAF President
  • The IAF Honorary Ambassador
  • 12 IAF Vice-Presidents
  • The IAF Executive Director
  • The IAF General Counsel
  • The IAF Incoming General Counsel
  • The IAF Honorary Secretary
  • The President of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA)
  • The President of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL)
  • Special Advisor to the President

IAF Secretariat

This branch is in charge of running the administration of the Federation.

Locations of past and future International Astronautical Congresses (IAC)

International Astronautical Congresses are held in the late summer or fall months. In 2002 and 2012, the World Space Congress combined the IAC and COSPAR Scientific Assembly. The 2020 IAC was held virtually due to the global COVID pandemic.

EditionDateVenue
1stSeptember 30 – October 2, 1950 Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg Paris, France
2ndSeptember 3–8, 1951 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, United Kingdom
3rdSeptember 1–5, 1952 Flag of Germany.svg Stuttgart, West Germany
4thAugust 3–8, 1953 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Zurich, Switzerland
5thAugust 2–7, 1954 Flag of Austria.svg Innsbruck, Austria
6thAugust 2–6, 1955 Flag of Denmark.svg Copenhagen, Denmark
7thSeptember 17–22, 1956 Flag of Italy.svg Rome, Italy
8thOctober 6–12, 1957 Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Barcelona, Spain
9thAugust 25–30, 1958 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Amsterdam, Netherlands
10thAugust 31 – September 5, 1959 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London, United Kingdom.
11thAugust 13–20, 1960 Flag of Sweden.svg Stockholm, Sweden
12thOctober 1–7, 1961 Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C., USA
13thSeptember 19–23, 1962 Flag of Bulgaria.svg Varna, Bulgaria
14thSeptember 25 – October 1, 1963 Flag of France.svg Paris, France
15thSeptember 7–12, 1964 Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg Warsaw, Poland
16thSeptember 13–18, 1965 Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg Athens, Greece
17thOctober 9–15, 1966 Flag of Spain (1945-1977).svg Madrid, Spain
18thSeptember 24–30, 1967 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Belgrade, Yugoslavia
19thOctober 13–18, 1968 Flag of the United States.svg New York, USA
20thOctober 5–10, 1969 Flag of Argentina.svg Mar del Plata, Argentina
21stOctober 4–9, 1970 Flag of Germany.svg Konstanz, West Germany
22ndSeptember 20–25, 1971 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Brussels, Belgium
23rdOctober 8–15, 1972 Flag of Austria.svg Vienna, Austria
24thOctober 7–13, 1973 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baku, USSR
25thSeptember 30 – October 5, 1974 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Amsterdam, Netherlands
26thSeptember 21–27, 1975 Flag of Portugal.svg Lisbon, Portugal
27thOctober 10–16, 1976 Flag of the United States.svg Anaheim, California, USA
28thSeptember 25 – October 1, 1977 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Prague, Czechoslovakia
29thOctober 1–8, 1978 Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia
30thSeptember 17–22, 1979 Flag of Germany.svg Munich, West Germany
31stSeptember 21–28, 1980 [3] Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg Tokyo, Japan
32ndSeptember 6–12, 1981 Flag of Italy.svg Rome, Italy
33rdSeptember 27 – October 2, 1982 Flag of France.svg Paris, France
34thOctober 10–15, 1983 Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest, Hungary
35thOctober 8–13, 1984 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Lausanne, Switzerland
36thOctober 7–12, 1985 Flag of Sweden.svg Stockholm, Sweden
37thOctober 4–11, 1986 Flag of Austria.svg Innsbruck, Austria
38thOctober 10–17, 1987 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Brighton, United Kingdom
39thOctober 8–15, 1988 Flag of India.svg Bangalore, India
40thOctober 7–13, 1989 Flag of Spain.svg Malaga, Spain
41stOctober 6–12, 1990 Flag of Germany.svg Dresden, Germany
42ndOctober 5–11, 1991 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal, Canada
43rdAugust 28 – September 5, 1992 Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C., USA
44thOctober 16–22, 1993 Flag of Austria.svg Graz, Austria
45thOctober 9–14, 1994 Flag of Israel.svg Jerusalem, Israel
46thOctober 2–6, 1995 Flag of Norway.svg Oslo, Norway
47thOctober 7–11, 1996 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Beijing, China
48thOctober 6–10, 1997 Flag of Italy.svg Torino, Italy
49thSeptember 28 – October 2, 1998 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melbourne, Australia
50thOctober 4–8, 1999 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Amsterdam, the Netherlands
51stOctober 2–6, 2000 Flag of Brazil.svg Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
52ndOctober 1–5, 2001 Flag of France.svg Toulouse, France
53rdOctober 10–19, 2002 Flag of the United States.svg Houston, USA
54thSeptember 29 – October 3, 2003 Flag of Germany.svg Bremen, Germany
55thOctober 4–8, 2004 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Vancouver, Canada
56thOctober 16–21, 2005 Flag of Japan.svg Fukuoka, Japan
57thOctober 2–6, 2006 Flag of Spain.svg Valencia, Spain
58thSeptember 24–28, 2007 Flag of India.svg Hyderabad, India
59thSeptember 29 – October 3, 2008 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Glasgow, United Kingdom
60thOctober 12–16, 2009 Flag of South Korea.svg Daejeon, South Korea
61stSeptember 27 – October 1, 2010 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Prague, Czech Republic
62ndOctober 3–7, 2011 Flag of South Africa.svg Cape Town, South Africa
63rdOctober 1–5, 2012 Flag of Italy.svg Naples, Italy
64thSeptember 23–27, 2013 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Beijing, China
65thSeptember 29 – October 3, 2014 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Toronto, Canada
66thOctober 12–16, 2015 Flag of Israel.svg Jerusalem, Israel
67thSeptember 26–30, 2016 [4] Flag of Mexico.svg Guadalajara, Mexico
68thSeptember 25–29, 2017 [5] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Adelaide, Australia
69thOctober 1–5, 2018 Flag of Germany.svg Bremen, Germany
70thOctober 21–25, 2019 Flag of the United States.svg Washington, D.C., USA
71stOctober 12–16, 2020N/A (Virtually livestreamed due to COVID-19) [6]
72ndOctober 25–29, 2021 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Dubai, UAE [7]
73rdSeptember 18–22, 2022 Flag of France.svg Paris, France [8]
74thOctober 2–6, 2023 Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Baku, Azerbaijan [9]
75thOctober 14–18, 2024 Flag of Italy.svg Milan, Italy [10]
76thSeptember 29 – October 3, 2025 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sydney, Australia
77thOctober, 2026 Flag of Turkey.svg Antalya, Turkey

See also

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References

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  4. IAC – International Astronautical Congress | September 26th – 30th 2016 Guadalajara, Mexico, accessed January 28, 2016.
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