International Astronautical Federation (IAF), the world's foremost space advocacy organisation, is based in Paris. It was founded in 1951 as a non-governmental organization. It has 206 members from 58 countries across the world. They are drawn from space agencies, industry, professional associations, government organizations and learned societies. Together, IAF members represent about 95% of the world's national-government space budgets.
It is linked with the International Academy of Astronautics and the International Institute of Space Law with whom the IAF organises the annual International Astronautical Congress (IAC). The most recent IAC occurred in Prague, Czech Republic between 27 September and 1 October 2010. (Selected papers are published in Acta Astronautica).
Working in close cooperation with the United Nations, IAF organises annually the Space Workshop for Developing Nations. With the Committee on Space Research and the International Institute of Space Law, the IAF also conducts an annual survey of Highlights in Space for the United Nations.
Prof. Dr. Berndt Feuerbacher of Germany is currently the President of the IAF.
Every year at the International Astronautical Congress, three prestigious awards are given out: the Allan D. Emil Memorial Award, the Franck J. Malina Astronautics Medal and the Luigi G. Napolitano Award.
Famous quotes containing the word federation:
“Women realize that we are living in an ungoverned world. At heart we are all pacifists. We should love to talk it over with the war-makers, but they would not understand. Words are so inadequate, and we realize that the hatred must kill itself; so we give our men gladly, unselfishly, proudly, patriotically, since the world chooses to settle its disputes in the old barbarous way.”
—General Federation Of Women’s Clubs (GFWC)