The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) is a nonprofit worldwide organization that serves as a global platform for promoting the advancement of space science, research, and exploration. Founded in 1951, the IAF brings together individuals, organizations, and institutions involved in space-related activities from all over the world.
The IAF's fundamental objective is to foster international cooperation in space activities, ensuring the peaceful use of outer space for the benefit of humanity. It achieves this goal by hosting conferences, symposiums, and workshops, where experts, scientists, engineers, and policy-makers from various countries come together to exchange knowledge, share research findings, and discuss emerging trends in space exploration and technology.
The IAF operates through a network of member organizations, including space agencies, research institutions, universities, and professional associations, spanning across more than 70 countries. Through these partnerships, the IAF facilitates the exchange of information, facilitates collaborative research projects, and encourages the development of standards and guidelines to ensure safe and sustainable space activities.
As a key influencer in the field, the IAF collaborates closely with other leading space organizations such as the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and NASA. Through these partnerships, the IAF actively contributes to the formulation of space policies, regulations, and space exploration roadmaps, seeking to expand humanity's knowledge of the cosmos while ensuring the responsible and peaceful use of outer space resources.
