From 2 to 6 October 2023, the 74th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) was held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan by the Caspian Sea. The congress was hosted by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), organized by Azerbaijan Space Agency (AZERCOSMOS), and co-organized by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and the International Institute of Space Law (IISL). The theme is: Global Challenges and Opportunities: Give Space A Chance.

More than 5,500 government officials, researchers, entrepreneurs, university teachers, students and journalists from all over the world attended the Congress. The Congress was rich in content, with more than 300 academic activities held, including plenaries, highlight lectures, late breaking news and technical sessions, covering such fields as space science and exploration, space application and operation, space technology, space infrastructure, and space and society. An exhibition was held during the Congress, with participation of more than 140 space agencies, enterprises, universities and international organizations.

CSA organized the largest delegation in its history to attend IAC and participate in the exhibition

CSA coordinated more than 120 representatives from the China National Space Administration (CNSA), Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, Deep Space Exploration Lab (DSEL), China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), Beihang University, Landspace, Emposat and other organisations to attend the congress, and organized a 400 m2  China Space Pavilion.

 

Representatives of the Chinese Delegation during IAC

   

Crew at China Space Station sent blessings to the opening ceremony of the IAC

On the morning of 2 October 2023, the 74th IAC held a grand opening ceremony in Baku Convention Center. Under the joint efforts of CNSA , CMSA and CSA, Chinese astronauts Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu and Gui Haichao sent video greetings from China Space Station to more than 5,000 delegates attending the opening ceremony. They also showed the photo of Azerbaijan's current President Ilham Aliyev at the age of 12. In the photo, he was accompanied by his father Heydar Aliyev and the astronauts of the Soviet Union and the United States to attend the 24th IAC held in Baku in 1973, signifying space industry needs generations of continuous efforts, and calling on the participants to actively carry out international cooperation in space, explore space together and build a beautiful home for the earth.

 

  

In his speech, President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude to the Chinese astronauts, stressing that it is of special significance for IAC to be held in Baku again after a lapse of 50 years. The convening of this IAC will further promote the rapid development of the world's space industry and make positive contributions to Azerbaijan's space industry, high technology and modernization.

PE:Space Leaders Discussion on Global Cooperation

On the afternoon of 2 October, the Plenary of One-To-One with Heads of Agencies was held in Aliyev Cultural Center. Space leaders from China, United States, Russia, Italy, Japan, India and United Arab Emirates attended the meeting. Mr.Li Guoping, the Chief Engineer of China National Space Administration introduced China's space achievements and future development plans, and expressed China's good will for space opening-up and cooperation.

 

Mr. Li Guoping Attended the Plenary of One-To-One with Heads of Agencies

 

China Space Team Won the IAA Award Again

Recommended by CSA, China’s Chang 'e-5 Team won the IAA Laurels for Team Achievement in 2023. During this IAC, IAA held an awarding ceremony. Mr. Hu Hao attended the awarding ceremony as a team representative, and announced that the scientific research samples of Chang 'e-5 will be open to international applications soon, and scientists from all countries are welcome to study together and share the results.

 

Chang 'e-5 Team won the IAA Laurels for Team Achievement

 

China’s Space Expert Re-elected IAF Vice President

Recommended by CSA, Mr. Li Daming from CASC was successfully elected as IAF Vice President. Since 1983, CSA has successfully recommended 12 Chinese experts as vice presidents, all of whom have played an important role in promoting exchange.

  Highlights at China Special Events

On the afternoon of 2 October, the GNF "International Lunar Research Station--International Science Project" sponsored by CNSA was successfully held. Mr. Li Guoping attended and delivered a speech. Yu Dengyun, academician of China Academy of Sciences, and Thomas Zurbuchen, former deputy director of NASA, gave keynote speeches on "International Lunar Research Station--International Science Project" and "Lunar Science and Exploration enabled through International and Commercial Partnerships" respectively. Mr.Wang Qiong announced the payload piggyback opportunities of Chang 'e-8. The GNF conducted extensive exchanges and discussions around the scientific objectives and engineering planning of the International Lunar Research Station and major projects at home and abroad in the field of deep space exploration.

 

Mr. Yu Dengyun Delivered the Report

 

On the morning of 4 October, the GNF "China Space Station Benefits Global Space Exploration" hosted by China Manned Space Agency(CMSA) was successfully held. Mr.Yang Hong,Mr Zhang Qiao and Mr.Lv Congmin gave keynote speeches entitled Frontier of Space Exploration：Design, Performance and Future Collaboration of China Space Station, and Space Exploration New Opportunities and Potential: China Space Station Science, Utilization and Cooperation respectively. The forum fully exchanged views on the overall plan, construction process, technical performance, space science and vision of research facilities of China Space Station.

 

Mr. Yang Hong Made the Report

 

On 5 October, the awarding ceremony of the 2nd Space Universities CubeSat Challenge (SUCC) was successfully held. The Challenge was jointly sponsored by IAF and CSA. Mr. Yu Miao, president of the 2nd SUCC pointed out that the competition is dedicated to tapping the innovative thinking of college students and cultivating talents for the world aerospace industry. Mr. Yu Dengyun and Mr. Wang Yiran,the vice president and secretary general of CSA presented awards to the team of Beihang University and the team of Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne who won the top prize. Mr.Jiang Jun, Deputy Secretary-General of CSA, announced the launch of the 3rd SUCC.

 

 

Mr. Yu Miao Delivered a Speech

 

China space experts actively perform their duties and conduct exchanges

During the IAC, Mr. Wang Yiran attended the IAF General Assembly and held talks with representatives of international organizations such as IAF, IAA, World Security Foundation, American Aerospace Foundation, George Washington University, and Ohio University on future cooperation. More than ten Chinese experts serving in IAF technical and administrative committees participated in the Committee activities.  Scientific and technical personnel from relevant domestic institutes exchanged nearly 100 papers, and exchanged ideas with representatives from all over the world.

 

Mr.Wang Yiran Held Talks with IAA leaders

The IAF Committee Created by China Organized Academic Activities

IAF Select Sub-Committee on Satellite Commercial Application Committee was created by CSA during the 67th IAC in 2016. Over the past few years, the Committee has organized technical session for IAC. This year, experts from China, United States, France, Italy, Czech Republic, India, Nepal and other countries exchanged views on topics such as network security, integrated network resources between space and ground, space services, and green finance, and discussed the development of satellite commercial applications.

 

Technical Session of IAF Select Sub-Committee on Satellite Commercial Application

China Space Pavilion Highly Acclaimed

CSA organized the DSEL, CASC, CASIC, Landspace, Emposat, Beihang University  to form the China Space Pavilion.

During the VIP tour of the exhibition, Mr. Li Guoping introduced the current situation and future development of China's space industry to the Azerbaijani President and leaders of space agencies. China space pavilion showcased the major engineering achievements, innovative and breakthrough technologies of China's space in recent years, such as China Space Station, International Lunar Research Station, Chang 'e series missions, Long March series rockets, ocean satellites and high-resolution satellites. Azerbaijan Space Agency and IAF awarded the 74th IAC " Cosmic Pavilion" to China.

 

 

Azerbaijani President Visited China Space Pavilion

Since joining IAF in 1980, CSA has been maintaining long-term friendly cooperation with IAF. At present, it is an alliance partner of IAF. The 47th and 64th IAC were separately held in Beijing in 1996 and 2013, both of which were widely acclaimed by  space community.