Acta Astronautica
The journal Acta Astronautica, 2000 pages a year, covers developments in space science technology related to peaceful scientific exploration of space and its exploitation for human welfare and progress, the conception, design, development and operation of space-borne and Earth-based systems. In addition to the regular issues of contributed papers and transaction notes, the journal publishes special issues devoted to selected proceedings of the International Astronautical Congresses (IAC), Human in Space Symposia, Symposia for Scientific Satellites, Low Cost Planetary Missions Conferences, Small Satellites for Earth Observation Symposia and other Academy symposia.
Position Papers and Cosmic Studies
As world leaders discuss the future in space that includes ambitious multinational projects, such as asteroid threats, large observatories, a lunar base or the eventual colonization of Mars, the Academy has embarked upon a series of studies to provide decision-makers an unbiased scientific and technological basis for their commitment to these programs. These multidisciplinary studies, prepared and reviewed by academicians from 80 countries, are examining alternatives for international cooperative ventures and their probable impact on the economic and social life of the nations involved.
While the Cosmic Studies are comprehensive works done by a large group of persons, Position Paper are limited efforts to emphasize important messages of limited scope. Both are elaborated gradually through various studies, meetings and discussions, and are reviewed several times by a number of Academy members, providing unique and unbiased scientific and technological references elaborated by the most prestigious scientists and decision-makers.
After the peer reviews these Cosmic Studies or Position Papers are approved by the Board of Trustees of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). Of course, for legal liability reasons, any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsoring or funding organizations. IAA Cosmic Studies and Position Papers are listed in this section.
Multilingual Space Dictionaries
Initiated in the sixties with a seven language dictionary, the 16 languages Multilingual Space Dictionary is the result of an international cooperation program within IAA. The IAA Multilingual Space Dictionary Study Group produced an homogeneous system of terms covering various fields of astronautics like space science, technology, medicine, law etc. In its present electronic form the Dictionary comprises more than 2500 English terms translated by specialists to 16 languages: Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish. The Dictionary is intended to help the work of scientists, engineers, translators and librarians, moreover to facilitate emergence of a new space terminology as well as the preparation of more complete aerospace dictionaries and encyclopedias in different languages.
The International Academy of Astronautics is please to offer the space community and general public including students, researchers a free download of the Dictionary on the IAA web site (Publications section).