International Astronautical Federation is based in Paris. It was founded in 1951 as a non-governmental organisation. It has 165 members from 44 countries across the world. They are drawn from industry, professional associations, government organizations and learned societies.
It is linked with the International Academy of Astronautics and the International Institute of Space Law with whom the IAF organises the annual International Astronautical Congresses. (Selected papers are published in Acta Astronautica.
Working in close cooperation with the United Nations, IAF organises annually the Space Workshop for Developing Nations and participated in Unispace III. With the Committee on Space Research and the International Institute for Space Law, the IAF also conducts an annual survey of Highlights in Space for the United Nations.
Dr. Marcio Nogueira Barbosa (Brazil), Deputy General Director UNESCO, is currently the President of the IAF.
