The International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2024) in Milan was a historic event, marking the 75th edition of this global gathering of space enthusiasts. Organized by the Italian Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIDAA), together with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and Leonardo, IAC 2024 achieved numerous milestones, leaving a significant legacy.
Novotech, with its advanced aerospace solutions, was present at the Puglia Region stand alongside eight other aerospace SMEs from the region. The CEO, Leonardo Lecce, was invited to the opening ceremony as the past-president of AIDAA.
This edition, with the theme “Responsible Space for Sustainability,” set a record with over 11.200 delegates from 120 countries, making it the largest and most diverse gathering of space enthusiasts. The exhibition hosted 530 exhibitors, showcasing cutting-edge technologies, including lunar samples from China’s Chang’e 6 mission and asteroid Bennu samples from NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission.
A key highlight was the IAF Global Space Leaders Summit, which brought together 60 heads of space agencies, fostering discussions on space cooperation and sustainability. Throughout the week, presentations on the latest scientific discoveries were held, including ESA’s Euclid mission, designed to explore dark matter.
The IAC also featured an engaging educational program with 25 international astronauts, and the IAF General Assembly selected Poznań, Poland, as the host city for IAC 2027. Additionally, ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission received the IAF World Space Award for its success.