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
Argentina: Sociedad Argentina Interplanetaria (Argentine Interplanetary Society)
Austria: Österreichische Gesellschaft für Weltraumforschung (Austrian Society for Space Research)
France: Groupement Astronautique Français (French Astronautic Group)
Germany: Gesellschaft für Weltraumforschung Stuttgart (Society for Space Research, Stuttgart), Gesellschaft für Weltraumforschung Hamburg (Society for Space Research Hamburg)
Italy: Associazione Italiana Razzi (Italian Rocket Association)
Spain: Asociación Española de Astronáutica (Spanish Astronautical Association)
Sweden: Svenska Interplanetariska Sällskapet (Swedish Interplanetary Society)
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.
^ a b"History | IAF". www.iafastro.org. Archived from the original on September 18, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
^"Governance | IAF". www.iafastro.org. Archived from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
^L. G. Napolitano (October 22, 2013). Applications of Space Developments: Selected Papers from the XXXI International Astronautical Congress, Tokyo, 21 — 28 September 1980. Elsevier Science. ISBN 978-1-4831-5976-8.
^IAC – International Astronautical Congress | September 26th – 30th 2016 Guadalajara, Mexico, accessed January 28, 2016.
^"International Astronautical Congress in 2017". Archived from the original on October 1, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
^"IAF : International Astronautical Congress 2020". www.iafastro.org. International Astronautical Federation. Archived from the original on June 4, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
^"IAF : International Astronautical Congress 2021". www.iafastro.org. International Astronautical Federation. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
^"IAF : International Astronautical Congress 2022". www.iafastro.org. International Astronautical Federation. Archived from the original on March 19, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
^"IAF : International Astronautical Congress 2023". www.iafastro.org. International Astronautical Federation. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
^"IAF : International Astronautical Congress 2024". www.iafastro.org. International Astronautical Federation. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
External links
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