Every year, generally in early October, the IAF together with its
associates the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and the
International Institute of Space Law (IISL), holds the International
Astronautical Congress (IAC) which is hosted by one of the national
societies, a member of IAF.
The Congresses are open to everybody and are an excellent opportunity
for organisations and individuals to meet and share knowledge about
the latest developments and achievements in the astronautical field.
Congress attendees can gain information about current space projects,
programmes and related technologies, while also networking and
promoting their own activities, achievements and products.
The Federation holds its Bureau Meetings and General Assemblies at the Congress, which is an excellent occasion for the IAF Committees to meet.
The objectives of the International Astronautical Congress are:
- To promote the peaceful goals of the sponsoring organisations (IAF, IISL and IAA)
- To give an opportunity for their members to meet and know about the last developments and achievements in the astronautical field
The Congress is generally held in early October and lasts one week. It is preceded by an IAF/UN Workshop which brings together space experts with policy and decision-makers from developing countries. This workshop aims at showing that space activities are a cost-effective tool for developing countries.
A Congress consists of:
- Nine or ten high-level Plenary Sessions and four Highlights Lectures
- more than a hundred technical sessions in which more than 1000 papers are presented
- a poster session, where some hundreds posters are exhibited
- an important trade show
- numerous social events
- an outreach programme
- an average of 1500 participants
The Official Dinner of the Congress is also the occasion for giving awards and medals such as the Allan D. Emil Memorial Award, the Luigi G. Napolitano Award, the Frank J. Malina Astronautics Medal, and various Student Awards.
The Federation holds Bureau and General Assembly Meetings at the Congress.
Reduced registration fees are granted to persons who belong to the IAF member organisations or who are member of the IAA or the IISL.
The IAC also comprises a space exhibition which is managed by the host country, and which welcomes industry products and space systems from all the world.
