“IAC has started with a strong bang and it is remarkable to hear their desire to work together as some agencies clearly praise collaboration”. Bram De Winter is in Dubai right now and blogging for NL Space Campus in a 5-day Series.
This will be the first of 5 stories about IAC2021 in Dubai from a student’s viewpoint. Bram is a graduate student geology and geochemistry at VU Amsterdam and Space Exploration Projectgroup Co-Lead & national contact for the Netherlands SGAC (Space Generation Advisory Council). He is part of the NL Space Campus Student Working group.
Day 1: Monday 25-10-2021
This will be the first of 5 stories about IAC2021 in Dubai from a student’s viewpoint. During the International Astronautical Conference (IAC) all major agencies, companies, individual people, and students join efforts and present acknowledgements of this year and look forward to the future. From all continents everyone presents their achievements and shape the future of space exploration.
For me personally, this conference starts 4 days earlier with the Space Generation Congress (SGC) organised by Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC). In this congress, 80 selected delegates with very diverse backgrounds join forces to tackle casus problems set by companies as ESA, NASA, Lockhead Martin and Airbus. In addition, a set of keynotes and networking events are organised. This combination of organised events and the selection of young professionals whom all have their own amazing personal accomplishments while still being younger than 35.
But today, IAC has started with a strong bang. After the UAE hosted the opening ceremony with speeches and presentation about their country and heritage, head of agencies from ESA, NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, CSA and ISRO took the stage and presented their achievements and looked towards the future. This was added with a very special video message from the administrator from China’s Space Agency. It was remarkable to hear their desire to work together as some agencies clearly praised collaboration.
After this wonderful presentation, the conference started officially. Over 10 technical sessions, very huge exhibition, 1 plenary session and 5 special sessions all are happening at the same time. So far making choices has been the most difficult part in IAC2021.
Tomorrow more information on the technical sessions, as I will perform my personal presentation.
من دبي اراك قريبا (From Dubai, goodbye)
