The Hindu Business Line : Hyderabad to host international space meet

Hyderabad, Sep. 14 A round table of global heads of space agencies, opportunities in the growing space business, the 50th anniversary of the space era: Sputnik 1, and a special address by Ms Sunita Williams, the Indian-origin cosmonaut are some of the key features of the upcoming international meet on space in Hyderabad.

A galaxy of space scientists and large number of aerospace and other related industry representatives are set to converge in the city to attend the 58th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2007) to be held during September 24 -29. The annual Congress organised by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF), being held in India only for the second time (earlier in Bangalore), is billed as among the biggest space events bringing some 2,000 international participants together.

The Congress, to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on September 24 provides a crossroad uniting the world’s space agencies, astronautics institutes, aerospace scientific associations and firms involved in space activities.

More than 1,300 authors are presenting papers, while symposia comprising 138 parallel technical sessions would deal with such subjects as space transportation, communication satellites, Earth observation, human spaceflight, exploration of outer space and the planets and space law.

An exhibition with more than 90 booths featuring products and activities of space agencies and major industries such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Airbus and Bell Industries is being put up. Participation of top representatives from the European, American, Russian, Japanese, Indian, Chinese, and Canadian space agencies has been confirmed, according to the organisers.

The Congress will be hosted by Indian Space Research Organisation and Astronautical Society of India in the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) and the International Space Exhibition in the adjacent HITEX Complex.

Some of the other topics listed for discussion are the role of government procurements in developing space markets; recent results on global exploration strategy & future lunar and interplanetary missions; Earth observation systems in Asia: International cooperation within Asian countries.

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