Dear Colleagues, Dear space enthusiasts,
As the President of the Italian Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics, AIDAA, I am proud to invite you to the 75th International Astronautical Congress, IAC, which will take place in Milan in October 2024.
The Italian Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics, one of the oldest Astronautical Associations worldwide and a founding member of IAF, is pleased to serve as the host of IAC 2024 and welcome you to Italy, one of the leading countries for space activities.
The Italian Space Agency and Leonardo co-host the 75th edition of IAC. The synergy among the national agency, the leading Italian aerospace company, and the academia, represented by AIDAA, was the primary strength of Milan’s bid and perfectly embodies the spirit of IAC, i.e., an event to gather all space players, share ideas and shape the future of the space exploration and responsible exploitation.
Inspired by the motto of IAC 2022, “Space for @ll”, our efforts are directed towards organizing a fully inclusive edition of the International Astronautical Conference. The 3G activities promoted by the IAF represent the foundation on which IAC 2024 is organized to offer an inclusive event for all, regardless of gender, geography, and age.
In 2024, Italy celebrates the 60th anniversary of the launch of the first Italian satellite, the San Marco 1, thanks to which Italy is counted as the third country in the world, and the first in Europe, to launch a satellite. Sixty years after the launch of San Marco 1, Italy is still one of the leading countries in space exploration and service. Therefore, the organization of IAC 2024 in Italy will be an outstanding opportunity to celebrate this historical national goal.
Past achievements should encourage us to pursue even greater ambitions; in Latin, Ab alto ad altum. Therefore, sixty years after the beginning of the Italian space activities, we propose the motto: Responsible Space for Sustainability. The motto contains a dilemma; space-based technologies are vital for the present social life and a sustainable future, but outer space is a finite resource, and we must preserve this asset for future generations. IAC 2024 aims to address this issue and propose appropriate solutions.
Italy is an excellent destination for IAC 2024. The country of Galileo Galilei and Leonardo Da Vici combines history, arts, technology, and innovation. The city of Milano is the second-largest Italian city, prevalently industry- and business-oriented, and, recently, has been the host city of the international exposition, EXPO 2015. Milano has the required facilities and logistics to meet the needs of the currently growing events at IAC. The Municipality of Milano, the Regione Lombardia, and the Italian Government strongly support IAC 2024.
We are proud to offer a superb conference center, Allianz MiCo, equipped with the latest technologies and satisfying the high standards required by IAC 2024. Furthermore, the Milano Convention Centre – MiCo – is adjacent to the new Citylife district, a perfect space to spend spare time between the events of IAC.
Let me conclude this letter with a warm invitation to be part of IAC 2024 and make the 75th edition the stage to share your ideas, business, and vision.
We look forward to welcoming you to Milan,
Best regards,
Erasmo Carrera
Erasmo Carrera
President of A.I.D.A.A. Associazione Italiana di Aeronautica ed Astronautica.
Local Chairman of IAC 2024 Milano.
As the organizer of the premier space event, the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), I am glad to invite you to the 75th edition in Milan, Italy on 14 – 18 October 2024. It is a pleasure organizing this event with our host and longstanding IAF member, the Italian Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIDAA) and the two co-hosts Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Leonardo. While this is the fifth IAC taking place in Italy, it is the first IAC ever to be organized in the city of Milan. The previous IACs in Italy were held in Rome, Turin and most recently Naples in 2012. We are looking forward to return to Italy and it will be a delight to discover this northern city in the heart of Lombardy with its rich history, vibrant culture, and innovative spirit.
The theme for the 75th International Astronautical Congress will be “Responsible Space for Sustainability”. The intention is to highlight the importance of Space as an environment that must be kept secure and open to exploration, peaceful use, and international co-operation by present and future generations in the interests of the planet and all nations, regardless of their level of development and without discrimination of any kind. This is crucial today as even more countries and public and private players are becoming actively involved in the space economy.
Sustainability is currently one of the core points for the Federation as part of its current SIS agenda “Sustainability, Investment, and Security”. We want to foster a future where space-based applications and services help improve life for all on planet Earth. Capabilities in space allow us to better understand our climate, adapt to changing environmental realities, and discover new pathways to living in balance with our home. As we consider sustainability on Earth, the IAF seeks to influence conversations around the sustainability of the space environment. Securing orbits, spacecraft, frequencies, and physical resources is critical to the future viability of space exploration. Norms and improved understanding of safe practices in space will allow actors to promulgate new applications to help study, track, understand, and protect planet Earth for future generations.
The IAC is the one place and time of the year where all global space actors come together. Covering all space sectors and topics, it offers everyone the latest space information and developments in academia and industry, networking opportunities, contacts, and potential partnerships. I am sure IAC 2024 will be outstanding and you do not want to miss out on it. Make sure to join us in beautiful Milan with the whole space community in October 2024 for the 75th International Astronautical Congress!
Clay Mowry
President of IAF, International Astronautical Federation
MOTTO
RESPONSIBLE SPACE FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Satellites and other space-based assets are vital for the functioning of today’s societies and the global economy and trade. The digital economy, the fourth industrial revolution, agriculture, transport (across the transport modes – land/water/air), fishing, energy, finance, urban development, telecommunication, environmental monitoring, and the broad security chain. The economy and the daily life of contemporary societies are vulnerable, both in space-faring nations and, more broadly, in all countries increasingly using modern technologies.
The Earth’s orbital space environment constitutes a finite resource that is being used by an increasing number of States, international Organizations and non-governmental entities.
The proliferation of space debris, the increasing complexity of space operations, the emergence of large constellations and the increased risks of collision and interference with the operation of space objects may affect the long-term sustainability of space activities.
The growing number of space objects is also preventing astronomers to perform their study of the universe and celestial bodies. Addressing these developments and risks requires international cooperation to avoid harm to the space environment and the safety of space operations.
Space activities are essential tools for realizing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Hence, the long-term sustainability of outer space activities is of interest and importance for current and emerging participants in space activities, in particular, for developing countries.
The long-term sustainability of outer space activities is defined as the ability to maintain the conduct of space activities indefinitely into the future in a manner that realizes the objectives of equitable access to the benefits of the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, in order to meet the needs of the present generations while preserving the outer space environment for future generations. This is consistent with the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (Outer Space Treaty). Several initiatives are taking shape to promote responsible behaviour in space to promote the development of technologies that minimize the environmental impact of manufacturing and launching space assets and that maximize the use of renewable resources and the reusability or repurposing of space assets to enhance the long-term sustainability of those activities.
Voluntary responsible behaviour is premised on the understanding that outer space should remain an operationally stable and safe environment that is maintained for peaceful purposes and open for exploration, use and international cooperation by current and future generations, in the interest of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, without discrimination of any kind and with due regard for the principle of equity.
