Africa’s Participation in the IAC 2024
The 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) is coming up and scheduled for 14th-18th October 2024, this time in Milan, Italy. Over 8,000 space industry experts, professionals, and members of academia are expected to attend in person. This year’s congress is themed “Responsible Space for Sustainability.”
The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) stands as a cornerstone event in the global space community, attracting over 6,000 participants from national space agencies, government departments, private companies, and academic and research institutions worldwide yearly. It is an essential platform for exchanging ideas, fostering collaboration and showcasing capabilities, offering cutting-edge insights, the latest industry developments, and comprehensive updates from academia. Emerging space nations can present their achievements and plans while space professionals explore the latest advancements, engage in meaningful discussions, and forge new partnerships. The IAC also inspires the next generation of space leaders and promotes the use of space technologies to address global challenges, driving the development and expansion of the global space ecosystem.
The congress programme features seven plenary sessions and three highlight lectures, 197 technical sessions and interactive presentations in five categories, including 27 symposium keynotes and 18 special sessions, 23 global networking forum discussions, a global exhibition, several side events such as the UN/IAF Workshop and the Space Generation Congress (SGC), the final stages of the IISL Moot Court, specialised networking events like galas and luncheons, the IAF geography, generation and gender (3G) diversity sessions, and cultural events to promote the local culture in Milan.
The world finals of the International Institute of Space Law Manfred Lachs Moot Court competition will be held on the 17th of October 2024, with Midlands State University, Zimbabwe, representing Africa; the Singapore Management University, representing the Asia Pacific region; the National Autonomous University of Mexico, representing Latin America; the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Law, Greece, representing Europe; and Washburn University School of Law representing North America.
The Plenary Sessions focus on various subject matters, such as sustainable use of space, new lunar frontiers, space resources, big data, opportunities for space human space flights, etc. The Special Sessions provide valuable insights into new and emerging topics of particular interest to the space community, bridging multiple disciplines in the process. These sessions, often conducted through panels, debates, and workshops, are highly interactive and centred on exchanging innovative ideas. The Global Networking Forums also offer a contemporary platform for sharing technical content with an open-minded audience. Tailored for young and talented space professionals, they facilitate global information exchange, with presenters and attendees joining remotely from the IAC venue. The global networking forums are a nurturing ground for future talent, enabling speakers to reach a broader audience through real-time online broadcasts.
Expected African Participation
IAC 2024 will emphasise the critical need to maintain space as a secure environment, open for exploration, peaceful use, and international collaboration for current and future generations. With nearly 8,000 satellites currently in orbit, around 5,000 of which are operational, this number is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. As more countries and public and private entities engage in the space economy, Earth’s orbit—a finite resource—faces challenges related to security, light pollution, and the availability of data and services from space technologies.
Africa, too, is becoming more engaged in space activities, with several countries launching new satellites. The continent is also confronting the challenges of an increasingly crowded orbit, as its dark skies require enhanced protection. Currently, 17 African countries have launched at least one satellite and, excluding existing space-faring countries, six more plan to launch their first satellites between now and 2030.
So far, five heads of space agencies and representatives from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Egypt, and Algeria have been confirmed as speakers at the IAC 2024 for the IAF Leaders Summit, titled “Space Capabilities for Sustainability on Earth.” They will make short presentations on the contributions of their respective agencies and countries to the global system of space capabilities for sustainable development on Earth.
Furthermore, out of 192 approved exhibitors, South Africa is the only confirmed African country exhibiting at the congress. Usually, the South Africa Space Pavillion at the IAC serves as a platform for showcasing the South African space sector. Led by the South African Department of Science and Innovation, the exhibition pavilion hosts space companies from the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors; the country’s space legislation body, SACSA; its space agency, South African National Space Agency; its SKA host, South African Radio Astronomy Observatory; the SpaceOps 2020 host, and other local industry players. The South African pavilion will be on South-North Wing-Level 0, Booth MN-A28.
The IAC boasts a membership of 513 space organisations from 77 countries worldwide, 17 of which are from African countries. In 2011, Africa hosted the International Astronautical Congress for the first time from 3rd to 7th October 2011 in Cape Town, South Africa, but the congress has yet to return to the continent. Although Africa’s space involvement has increased over the years, with several plans to launch future satellites in the works and the operationalisation of the African Space Agency, amongst other developments, the continent’s participation in industry stages on global scales, such as the IAC, is still significantly low.
Space in Africa is a media partner for the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2024), which will be held from 14 to 18 October 2024 in Milan, Italy.