Mr G Madhavan Nair (third from right), Chairman, ISRO, lights the traditional lamp during IAC-2007 inauguration

The theme of IAC-2007 was “Touching Humanity: Space for Improving Quality of Life”. Accordingly, the congress focused on the growing use of Space to improve the life of mankind.

More than 2100 delegates from various international Space agencies, academic institutions and industries participated in the Congress. This included about 1050 space professionals, 350 students, 130 young professionals, 180 journalists from print and electronic media and 100 exhibitors. A significant number of delegates from space-fairing nations including USA, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, China, Canada, Italy and UK participated in the Congress.

IAC 2007 was inaugurated by Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Shri Prithviraj Chavan. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was present on the occasion. Dr. James V Zimmerman, President, IAF, Prof. Edward C Stone, President, IAA and Dr. N Jesuntuliyana, Director, IISL and a galaxy of chiefs of Global Space Agencies participated.

By electing India to host the 58th Session of IAC, the world space community recognised the country’s significant achievements in Space science and technology and their benefits to mankind. The last time that India hosted IAC was in 1988 at Bangalore.

A view of ISRO pavilion at International Space Exhibition-2007

Established in 1951 to promote the exchange of information and to encourage international cooperation on space activities, IAF relies on a vast international network composed of professional societies, research organisations, governmental institutions and the private sector as well as individual experts and volunteers from all the continents.

IAA is an international community of 1200 leading experts committed to expanding the frontiers of Space.

IISL was founded by IAF in 1960. IISL has elected individual and institutional members from more than 40 countries who are distinguished by their contributions to or have proven interest in the field of space law or other social science aspects related to space activities.

ISRO and ASI are active members of IAF and over the years, ISRO/ASI scientists have played a significant role in the activities of IAF, IAA and IISL. Mr G Madhavan Nair, who is the Chairman of ISRO and President of ASI, is also the Vice President of the Scientific Activities of IAA.

Dr. M.Y.S. Prasad, Deputy Director, ISRO’s Space Applications Centre, is one of the Vice Presidents of IAF.

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of spaceage, a special publication in the form of a book titled “50 years of Space: A Global Perspective” contributed by all the leading Space Agencies, was released during the Congress and distributed to the delegates. A directory on Indian Aerospace Industries was also brought out on this important occasion to create business-to-business interaction across global space industrial community.

A galaxy of dignitaries witnessing a cultural programme during IAC-2007

Space systems have been playing an increasingly important role all over the globe, helping to benefit humanity through national and international development efforts, the use of advanced technologies and the creation of space assets. The theme of IAC 2007 thus was aptly chosen. Considerable attention was given while shaping the technical programme to reflect this theme for the Congress.

IAC-2007 hosted by India, was of special significance because it was held in the year which celebrates the golden jubilee of the launch of the first artificial satellite of the Earth–the Russian Sputnik-1 – an event that heralded the space age. The year 2007 also celebrated the 50th anniversary of International Geophysical Year and the 40th anniversary of Outer Space Treaty.

Considerable attention was given while shaping the technical programme to reflect this theme for the Congress.

The Congress offered a comprehensive platform for delegates from international space agencies, global space industry, academicians and students to deliberate upon contemporary ideas, prevailing space activities and future aspirations across a diverse range of topics with prominence given to societal benefits. It also provided an excellent opportunity to discuss many robotic and human space exploration activities that aim to expand our knowledge about the universe and inspire common man.
More than 800 technical papers were presented in 125 technical sessions, which were conducted parallelly in 17 session halls. This apart, about 200 papers were presented in technical interactive sessions and posters of the same were displayed. From India, more than 150 papers were presented in various sessions. About 80 papers were presented by ISRO/ Department of Space personnel. The papers covered a variety of themes under Space Sciences, Space Exploration, Space Transportation, Earth Observation and Space and Society categories. Some of these are selected for publication in the IAA journal Acta Astronautica.

To keep the delegates informed about the recent significant happenings in the field of space which could not be covered as part of the technical sessions, five 30-minute slots of Late Breaking News (LBN) was organised every day during the Congress. Recent happenings like Martian Dust Storm, Japan’s mission to moon KAGUYA and on-orbit tile damage to Space Shuttle and future programmes like Google, Lunar X PRIZE - a robotic race to the moon, and EADS Astrium’s Space Tourism Project were covered in these slots.

Fifty students from India selected and sponsored by ISRO through rigorous competition, besides Young Professionals selected by IAF from various parts of the world also participated in the Congress. 800 students from Hyderabad also participated in the interactive session with Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, former President of India as part of ‘IAC 2007 student programme’. On that occasion, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam spoke on “Space: Technology, Programmes and Creativity”.

Dr Kalam later delivered a special address for the delegates in which he appreciated the efforts of ISRO in holding the IAC-2007 in India, and suggested the International Space Community to orient the space programmes for the betterment of human society, particularly in developing countries.

Seven plenary events and four highlight lectures were also held during the Congress. Distinguished space professionals from various international agencies including Dr K Kasturirangan, former Chairman, ISRO and Ms Sunita Williams, Indian-American astronaut, delivered highlight lectures and also participated in the open forum.

A Plenary Session titled ‘Heads of Space Agencies” was moderated by Prof. U R Rao, former Chairman, ISRO. The chiefs of Space Agencies who participated were Chairman, ISRO, President, Canadian Space Agency, Director General, European Space Agency, Administrator, NASA, Head, Federal Space Agency, Russia, Administrator, Chinese National Space Agency, President, Japanese Space Agency and President, French Space Agency. They gave an overview of the current programmes and provided an insight into future plans of their space agencies.

The plenary event on the theme “New Space Industry Actors in Global Market Place” organised by IISL identified the rising role and growing commercial importance of space industry and the emerging space faring nations in the global arena. It covered the commercial, legal and regulatory aspects of the space products in the light of recent developments.
The highlight lecture on “Earth Threatening Asteroids” delivered by Dr. William Ailor from Aerospace Corporation, United States discussed a range of possible options for deflecting an earth threatening asteroid and outlined opportunities for future research on the nature of asteroids and comets as well as the technologies needed to eventually implement effective deflection techniques.

In the highlight Lecture on “Future Directions for Space”, Dr. K Kasturirangan, Former Chairman, ISRO and current Member of Rajya Sabha (Upper house of the Indian Parliament), outlined the future directions for space missions towards benefiting the society.

IAC in EDUSAT: As a new initiative for the benefit of the Indian student community, important events of IAC-2007 like opening ceremony and Highlight lectures by eminent aerospace personalities were broadcast live. Besides, the selected exhibition stalls displaying capabilities and products of various aerospace companies were broadcast through EDUSAT one hour every day. These live and recorded coverages were received by more than 30,000 schools and colleges equipped with EDUSAT reception terminals and rebroadcast / redistributed by some of DTH and Cable Operators.

In the highlight lecture on “Earth Observation Systems in Asia – International Cooperation within Asian countries”, Prof. Tetsuo Yasaka of Kyushu University, Japan addressed the global weather change and disasters such as climate anomalies, floods and tsunami, drought, water scarcity and wildfire in Asia.

Ms Sunita Williams, Indian-American astronaut of NASA, shared her experiences of living onboard the International Space Station continuously for a record period of 195 days. She also gave a talk on the “Technical Achievements and International Cooperative Success in ISS”. Both the lectures attracted very good response from the delegates as well as about 300 students from the city of Hyderabad. Astronauts from the European Space Agency and the first Chinese space traveller also participated in the Congress.

On the last day of the Congress, invited public, delegates and students got an opportunity to interact on various aspects of Space activities (both Indian and Global) with Dr K. Kasturirangan, and Mr Rakesh Sharma, the first cosmonaut of India.

As a special event of the Congress, satellite-based Telemedicine was demonstrated by Dr Devi Prasad Shetty of India and cardiac specialists from Austria.

Ms Sunita Williams interacting with the delegates of IAF-2007

Participation of students and young professionals in the Congress activities are encouraged through student sponsorship programmes of major space agencies. Through participation in the Congress, students get an excellent opportunity to meet space experts and to create many valuable contacts with professional and like-minded students from all over the world. More than 250 student delegates were sponsored by Space Agencies like NASA, ESA, CSA, JAXA and ISRO to attend IAC-2007. Specifically ISRO, jointly with ASI sponsored 58 Indian students selected through a nation wide competition. Several interaction programmes and question and answer sessions with Space Agency leaders were organised as part of these programmes.

Associated Events
There were many associated events with 58th IAC. These include International Space Exhibition 2007, the 17th UN/IAF workshop, Academy Day of the IAA and Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Competition.

International Space Exhibition 2007 displaying the latest in technology and products from various Space Agencies, Entrepreneurs, Industries and others was organised in parallell with the Congress, wherein more than 100 aerospace companies like Boeing, EADS Astrium, Alenia Spacio and space agencies including ISRO/Antrix, German Space Agency (DLR) and Italian Space Agency (ASI), participated in the Space Expo and portrayed their products and services. With such a unique congregation of diverse stakeholders, the exhibition ensured a platform to enhance the business-to-business and business-to-customer links in the backdrop of growing economic and developmental activities of this region.

A Business Conclave programme, comprising sessions of contemporary interest to Space industry attracted good response from industry leaders and enhanced the value for exhibitors and participants.

The seventeenth UN/IAF Workshop at the campus of National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA), Hyderabad preceded the 58th IAC and discussed various initiatives in the area of space science and technology for sustainable development and food security. Experts, policy and decision makers, representatives from academic community and private industry from developing and industrialised countries shared their experiences in the application of space technology for food security and also discussed opportunities for increased cooperation among their countries. A Round Table with the participation of heads of space agencies and other relevant national, regional and international institutions and organisations from both space faring and non-faring countries was organised to discuss on how space technologies and policies can contribute to sustainable development programmes in developing countries, with a focus on food security.

International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) organised Academy Day on September 23, 2007 at the Congress venue wherein about 250 members of IAA participated. This event was co-sponsored by the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi, the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), Bangalore and the Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS), Bangalore. Plenary talks on Mars Exploration and distribution of annual IAA awards were the highlight of this event.

The finals of sixteenth Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Competition was organised by IISL, at NALSAR Space Law University campus. Three teams from Europe, North America and the Asia Pacific region competed on the hypothetical problem on International Liability.

The participation of such a large number of aerospace professionals in IAC-2007 was an indication of the will of the international community to use the Congress platform to dwell upon the critical issues that confront the progress of humankind in this vast frontier and chart a new phase of advancement to expand the horizons of our knowledge and to enhance the value of application of that knowledge towards improving the quality of life on earth. ISRO and ASI were proud to host such a mega event in the city of Hyderabad.