Paris, France (IAF PR 04-2011), 2 May 2011 – The 62nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2011) will be organised in Cape Town, South Africa between Monday 3 October and Friday 7 October 2011. Media representatives are invited to attend this important Congress.
The Congress is the world’s premier international space gathering, attracting every year heads of space agencies, industry executives and experts to discuss the latest advancements in space technology and exploration, as well as the newest political and economical developments in the space sector. This year, some 3000 delegates are expected at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. IAC 2011 will have the theme “African Astronaissance” and the first day of the Congress, 3 October, will be devoted to the development of space in Africa.
Over the course of the Congress, technical papers from 65 different countries will be presented in a varied programme containing 160 sessions. The public programme will include plenaries, highlight lectures and late breaking news sessions. Business to business opportunities are offered at the International Exhibition and the expanded International Cluster Forum. The 2011 UN-IAF Workshop on “Space for Human and Environmental Security” and the 3rd International Meeting for Members of Parliament are also part of a supporting series of events in Cape Town. Both will address subjects important to Africa and emerging nations: water, food and resource management.
Africa Space Day
Africa Space Day will take place on the opening day of the IAC. Throughout Monday 3 October there will be a series of events dedicated to the continent culminating in the African Space Leaders Round Table, an important discussion reflecting this year’s IAC theme “African Astronaissance” on Heads of Agency level, including the newly created South African National Space Agency (SANSA), the National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA, Nigeria) as well as the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL).
International Space Exhibition and 3rd International Cluster Forum
As a vital accompaniment to the 62nd International Astronautical Congress, an international space exhibition will last all week. Representatives from the world’s space industry from companies to agencies will be represented. The exhibition will be inaugurated by senior officials on Monday 3 October after the IAC 2011 Opening Ceremony.
The IAF will be organising the International Cluster Forum within the Exhibition area. As part of its mission of Connecting Space People, the Federation developed the idea of clustering various types of organisations with the objective to foster collaboration between small enterprises, R&D institutions, universities and larger entities. The Forum will address international collaborative innovation, nanosatellite launch opportunities and payloads, career development, etc.
Media registration
The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and the Local Organising Committee are pleased to invite members of the media to attend this year’s Congress. In order to register, please visit www.iafastro.org/mediacentre.
The registration deadline is 20 September 2011.
Please understand that media accreditation can only be granted to active members of the media (printed, radio, TV and web) attending the Congress and to photographers commissioned by a news-gathering agency or specific publication. All PR, advertising, marketing and sales representatives will require either Delegate or Exhibitor passes and cannot be granted media accreditation.
For information on travel and accommodation in Cape Town, please visit www.iac2011.com
Contact information:
Juliane McCarty
Communications Officer
Phone : +33(0)1 45 67 55 97
Fax: +33(0)1 42 73 21 20
Email : juliane.mccarty@iafastro.org
