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The International Astronautical Federation

As the Second World War came to an end, the United States and the Soviet Union began to divide due to their differences in ideology and the governance of their country. 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.

The International Astronautical Federation was formed six years after the Iron curtain fell 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 International Astronautical Congresses.

Founding Organizations

Argentina: Sociedad Argentina Interplanetaria (Argentianian 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 Astronautica (Spanish Astronautical Association

Sweden: Svenska Interplanetariska Sällskapet (Swedish Interplanetary Society)

Switzerland: Schweizerische Astronautische Arbeitsgemeinschaft (Swiss Astronautical Association)

United Kingdom: British Interplanetary Society

United States: American Rocket Society, Detroit Rocket Society, Pacific Rocket Society, Reaction Research Society

International Astronautical Federation Governance

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.

IAF Bureau

 The IAF Bureau is responsible for organizing the IAF General Assembly and consists of:

The IAF President

12 IAF Vice-Presidents

The IAF Executive Director

The IAF 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 advisors to the President

IAF Secretariat

This branch is in charge of running the administration of the Federation.

Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

The United Nations involvement in space related activities can be traced back to the beginning of the Space Race. After the first man-made object orbited the Earth in 1957, the UN has focused on ensuring outer space is used for peaceful purposes. The Launch of Sputnik marked the beginning of the Space Race as well as the beginning of satellite use for the advancement of science.

As the Cold War began, fear of Outer Space being used for military purposes spread through the international community. This lead to the creation of multiple organizations with the intent to govern how outer space can be used in order to assure it does not become the next frontier for conflict.

History

In 1958, the United Nations established the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space which originally consisted of 18 members: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czechoslovakia, France, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Sweden, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Arab Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America.

In 1959, the United Nations permanently established the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and grew to involve 24 countries (Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lebanon, and Romania.) The main focuses of COPUOS is to promote cooperation in the peaceful use of outer space, and share information regarding outer space and its exploration.

In 1962, the two COPUOS subcommittees: the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee met for the first time and continue to do so annually.

Member States

• 1959: Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Lebanon, Romania
• 1961: Chad, Mongolia, Morocco, Sierra Leone
• 1973: Chile, Federal Republic of Germany, German Democratic Republic, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Venezuela
• 1977: Benin, Cameroon, Colombia, Ecuador, Iraq, Netherlands, Niger, Philippines, Turkey, Yugoslavia
• 1980: China, Greece, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic, Upper Volta, Uruguay, Viet Nam
• 1994: Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Peru, Republic of Korea, Senegal, South Africa, Ukraine
• 2001: Saudi Arabia, Slovakia
• 2002: Algeria
• 2004: Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Thailand
• 2007: Bolivia, Switzerland
• 2010: Tunisia
• 2011: Azerbaijan
• 2012: Armenia, Costa Rica, Jordan
• 2013: Belarus, Ghana
• 2014: Luxembourg
• 2015: El Salvador, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates

The European Space Policy Institute

Created in November of 2003, the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) is responsible for aiding in the European use of outer space. “The European Space Policy Institute provides decision-makers with an informed view on mid- to long-term issues relevant to Europe’s space activities. In this context, ESPI acts as an independent platform for developing positions and strategies.” Its focus is to conduct analyses and offer advice to European counties in order to maximize the benefits of the use of outer space.

Establishment

The creation of the European Space Policy Institute was brought upon by the Council of the European Space Agency in 2002. Based in Vienna, Austria, the Foundation was created in November 2003 by the European Space Agency and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency.

Function

The goal of the ESPI is to set up a global active forum to express the needs and capabilities of European space programs, promote European space research, create an international network of experts relating to space activities, influence further decisions on space related policy, and to serve as a source for information on European space policy.

Members and Partners

Current Members: European Space Agency, Austrian Research Promotion Agency, Arianespace, Italian Space Agency, Belgian Federal Science Policy Office, French Space Agency, German Aerospace Center, Airbus Defence and Space, European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, European Commission, Eutelsat, Norwegian Space Center, Romanian Space Agency, SES, Thales Alenia Space.

Partners: Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy, Committee on Space Research, United Nations Economic and Social Council, ECSL Point of Contact, Eisenhower Center for Space and Defense Studies, European Academy for the Study of the Consequences of Scientific and Technological Advance, European Science Foundation, George Washington University - Space Policy Institute, International Astronautical Federation, International Academy of Astronautics, International Institute of Space Commerce, International Institute of Space Law, International Relations and Security Network, International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, International Space University, Prague Security Studies Institute, Secure World Foundation, Space Generation Advisory Council, Società Italiana per l’Organizzazione Internazionale, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.