2021 International Space Congress confirmed
The 72nd International Space Congress has been formally announced, taking place in Dubai between 25-29 October. The IAC was formally announced at a press conference held earlier today at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center, United Arab Emirates.
The hosting of the event in Dubai represents a major coup for the UAE, whose position as the foremost spacefaring nation in the Middle East was cemented earlier this year by the arrival of the Hope orbiter at Mars (see ‘Mars Hope orbiter knuckles down to work’, 11 May, https://hellasdailyherald.substack.com/p/hope-mars-orbiter-knuckles-down-to). Of particular interest for Mars exploration will be a session devoted to the Mars 2020 mission, and particularly the steps taken towards Mars sample return, on 26 October.
In recent years, the IAC has enjoyed a vastly enhanced public profile, thanks to the frequent addresses by Elon Musk of SpaceX on the company’s development of the Starship, which will enable crewed interplanetary travel. It was revealed during the press conference that both Musk and Jeff Bezos of Blue Origin have been approached to address the Congress in October.
More information is available at https://www.iafastro.org/events/iac/iac-2021/.