The signing of agreements to host the 24th International Astronautical Congress (IAC24) in Milan took place against the stunning backdrop of the 39th floor of Palazzo Lombardia. The ceremony involved two signings: the contract between the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and the Italian Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIDAA), which will be responsible for organizing the event from October 11th to October 18th, 2024, and a letter of intent committing the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Leonardo to support AIDAA in organizing the event.
The agreements were signed by Pascale Ehrenfreund, president of the IAF, and Erasmo Carrera, president of AIDAA. The letter of intent was signed by Giorgio Saccoccia, president of ASI, and Alessandro Profumo, CEO of Leonardo.
The IAC is the most significant global event in the field of space, and the 75th congress is expected to bring over 8,000 experts from industry, research, and institutions to Milan. Milan’s candidacy as the host city was declared the winner in October 2021 and was supported by AIDAA, ASI, and Leonardo, representing the Italian academic world, institutions, and space industry. The Italian government and local institutions, particularly the president of the Lombardy region and the mayor of Milan, played a decisive role in supporting the candidacy.
The ceremony was attended by Attilio Fontana, president of the Lombardy region, and Elena Buscemi, president of the Milan town council. They emphasized the importance of the space industry in Lombardy’s economy and pledged their support for the success of the event.
The theme for IAC 2024 is “Responsible space for sustainability,” highlighting the importance of space as an environment that should be preserved for peaceful exploration and international cooperation. The event will take place at the Milano Congress Center (Allianz MiCo) and is organized with the contribution of AIM Group International.
Currently, there are approximately 5,000 operational satellites in orbit, and this number is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. The increasing number of countries and stakeholders involved in the space economy poses challenges such as overcrowding in terrestrial orbit, safety risks, light pollution, and limited availability of data and services provided by space technologies. Space systems play a crucial role in various sectors, including economics, industry, agriculture, transportation, energy, finance, urban development, communications, environmental monitoring, safety, and global trade.
Italy is at the forefront of the responsible use of space for sustainability, boasting a complete supply chain in the space economy. The country’s research institutions and companies of all sizes, from start-ups to large-scale industries, supported Milan’s candidacy. Milan is now preparing for the next steps in organizing the event.
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