SWF Plays Active Role in 2014 International Astronautical Congress

Monday, October 13, 2014

Last week, over 3,000 aerospace professionals from around the world met in Toronto, Canada for the 2014 International Astronautical Congress (IAC). Through continued support of young professionals and students, and active involvement in the IAC’s agenda, SWF once more played a key role in the conference.  

SWF sponsored a Working Group on Policy and Legal Aspects of On-Orbit Servicing during the 13th Space Generation Congress, the annual meeting of the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) immediately preceding the IAC. SWF Project Manager Chris Johnson advised the group on the international and national laws applicable to the proposed activity.

SWF also hosted a lunch with the six recipients of the 2014 SWF IAC scholarship, who presented their work in different technical sessions during the conference.  

SWF Staff pictured with scholarship winners

As part of the International Astronautical Federation’s Global Networking Forum, SWF Washington Director Victoria Samson moderated a discussion with international experts entitled “Space Governance: An International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities.”

Ms. Samson also presented a paper on the "National Space Policies and Their Importance in Ensuring the Long-Term Sustainable Use of Space" during the technical session on space sustainability. The session –Assuring a Safe, Secure, and Sustainable Space Environment for Space Activities – was moderated by former SWF Executive Director Ray Williamson. Also participating in this session, SWF Program Manager Laura Delgado López offered a presentation on “Space Sustainability Approaches of Emerging Space Nations: Mexico, Colombia and Brazil.” Both papers will soon be submitted for publication.  

Ms. Delgado López also joined a group of 30 international delegates for the International Astronautical Federation International Programme Management Committee’s Young Professionals Network. The workshop seeks to gather input from young professionals in the international space community to gain the knowledge they need to better develop and empower the next-generation workforce. Ms. Delgado López participated in the group tasked with answering the following question: Which are the key competences and skills that YPs consider important to reinforce in the aerospace sector?

SWF Executive Director Michael Simpson and SWF Operations Manager Lisa Croy also attended side meetings and events during the IAC.