South Africa has had a good couple of years in some respects. In 2010 it hosted the FIFA World Cup, with matches being played round the country in nine different host cities, while the last one was saved for the awe inspiring Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa's biggest city. Following this, there have been many rumours circulating that it may well be in Cape Town that one of the next Grand Prix races is held, perhaps as soon as 2012, with a new track in development for it.
And now, this year, from the 3rd to the 7th of October, the Astronautical Conference was held in Cape Town. Astronautics is the theory and practice of navigation above the atmosphere of the earth; the study of space flight in layman's terms. This is a pretty big deal as in attendance at this congress was a vast array of representatives from the world's leading space agencies, as well as researchers, academics, industry executives, students and professionals.
This all coincides with two important events: first, it is World Space Week; and second, it is the 60th anniversary of this conference. The International Astronautical Conference (IAC) is organised by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), and constitutes the largest conference in this subject area in the world.
For the conference, world leaders in all the relating industries gather together for a series of lectures, and other kinds of sessions, exhibitions, and the presentation of papers, of which the conference receives o
This all coincides with two important events: first, it is World Space Week; and second, it is the 60th anniversary of this conference. The International Astronautical Conference (IAC) is organised by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), and constitutes the largest conference in this subject area in the world.
For the conference, world leaders in all the relating industries gather together for a series of lectures, and other kinds of sessions, exhibitions, and the presentation of papers, of which the conference receives o
This all coincides with two important events: first, it is World Space Week; and second, it is the 60th anniversary of this conference. The International Astronautical Conference (IAC) is organised by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), the International Institute of Space Law (IISL), and constitutes the largest conference in this subject area in the world.
For the conference, world leaders in all the relating industries gather together for a series of lectures, and other kinds of sessions, exhibitions, and the presentation of papers, of which the conference receives over 1,000 each time. This year there were also representatives from the government present to discuss the impact of space technology and science on the environment, and other social issues. NASA was also in attendance this year, which was a highlight.
The building in which this conference was held was the Town International Convention Centre, and it apparently went off quite successfully. South Africa has seen some great fortune in the last couple of years in terms of key events being hosted there, and now to add to this list, there is the 60th anniversary of the world's biggest conference on space travel.
For the conference, world leaders in all the relating industries gather together for a series of lectures, and other kinds of sessions, exhibitions, and the presentation of papers, of which the conference receives over 1,000 each time. This year there were also representatives from the government present to discuss the impact of space technology and science on the environment, and other social issues. NASA was also in attendance this year, which was a highlight.
The building in which this conference was held was the Town International Convention Centre, and it apparently went off quite successfully. South Africa has seen some great fortune in the last couple of years in terms of key events being hosted there, and now to add to this list, there is the 60th anniversary of the world's biggest conference on space travel.