Please see our Media Section to access the most recent press releases issued by the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). Announcements on IAA new members 2024 and IAA Awards 2024 are now available on the occasion of the October 13, 2024 Academy Day in Milan, Italy. Please visit THE ACADEMY/MEDIA/IAA Press Releases Photo: IAA

Academy Day International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) Milan, Italy (MICO, Brown Hall 3, South wing Level 2) Sunday October 13, 2024 MICO Convention Center GATE 2, Viale Eginardo – Entrance from Portello underground station GATE 16, Piazzale Carlo Magno – Pedestrian access Academy Day in Brown Hall 3 (South wing Level 2) Program 09h00 Opening of the Academy Day (John Schumacher, IAA President) 09h15 Associazione Italiana di Aeronautica e Astronautica, Academy Day sponsor (Erasmo Carrera, AIDAA) 09h30 SG 2.20 Artificial Intelligence in Space Medicine, its evolution, applications, future research and innovation (Chrysoula Kourtidou-Papadeli) 10h00 SG 6.21 Global status of astronautics & space-related higher-education: Goals and Strategies (Sandra Haeuplik-Meusburger) 10h30 10 years of Rosetta Mission (Gerhard Schwehm) 11h00 SG 6.22 Scope of the Space Architecture discipline revisited in response to current demands (Olga Bannova) 11h30  SG 5.21 Dark and Quiet Sky (Martin von der Ohe) 12h00 The SETI Post-Detection Protocols: October 2024 Draft Revisions (Les Tennen) 12h30 Lunch (upon registration) Room Brown Hall 2 (South wing Level 2) 13h30 Rocket Propulsion: Hitting the Reset Button (Joe Cassady) Propulsion for Interstellar Travel (Les Johnson) Toward a Global Framework for the Safe and Sustainable Use of Space Nuclear Power: Addressing Challenges and Enabling Deep Space Exploration (Bhavya Lal) 14h45 Laurels for Team Achievement to the Chandrayaan 3 Mission Team (S. Somanath, Chairman ISRO) 15h45 Moon Farside Protection (Claudio Maccone) 16h15 SG 1.17 Next-generation space observatory searching for close-by habitable worlds and extraterrestrial life (Athena Coustenis) 16h45 Space Solar Power Workshop conclusions (John Mankins) 17h00 Discussions 17h15 End of Session 18h30 IAA Reception, at Melia Milano Hotel for registered participants (registration is now closed) 19h15 Induction Ceremony for Newly Elected Academicians, 20h30 IAA Awards Gala Dinner at Melia Milano Hotel Von Karman Award 2024 to Charles Bolden Jr, in presence of Academician Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator Sponsored by AIDAA

Prof. Wu Meirong was the Director General of the China Center for Resources Satellite Data & Application (CRESDA), Beijing, China. She was responsible for the design and development of the Data Processing System for the transmitted data from three sensors (CCD, IRMSS and WFI) aboard the first of China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (CBERS-1) and received by three ground stations simultaneously. She participated in the development of automatic pre-launch testing and checking systems for different launchers. She also participated in the design of 1st digital control for launchers. She was responsible for the development of methods for the testing, evaluating and replacing critical components of rockets to extend its storage life to three times its designed value. With such a record, she was elected a member of the International Academy of Astronautics in 2001 after a bright leadership of an IAA symposium in China. She started to be member of the IAA Board of Trustees, Social Sciences, in 2003 under the presidency of Ed Stone and the vice-Presidents K. Kasturirangan (India), Hiroki Matsuo (Japan), Yuri Koptev (Russia) and Hubert Curien (France). Her twenty years at the IAA Board were highlighted with responsibilities in various standing committees including the finance committee where she successfully stimulated support in China. In 2014 Prof. Wu Meirong received the most prestigious award of the Academy, the von Karman Award. She was the second woman to receive this premier award. Before her, only Eilene Galloway (USA) received such a distinction in 1986 and after her, only last year Chiaki Mukai (Japan) received such a distinction. The 2014 award ceremony was quite special as it happened during the gala dinner at the Ronald Reagan World Trade Center of Washington DC, USA, in front of 500 participants and 35 Heads of Space Agencies for the largest Summit ever organized. Prof. Wu Meirong passed away on July 28, 2024, in Beijing at the age of 88. As per the wishes of her family, the farewell ceremony will be held at 10 am on August 1, 2024, in the Orchid Hall of Babaoshan Funeral Home. In addition to her expertise, we will all remember her mastering to speak several languages, her impressive leadership among scientific audiences, her culture in art and wonderful voice to sing opera among friend circles. We are missing not only a real scientific expert but a friend for so many all over the world.

Many Academicians and international experts attended the Academy Day Busan held on Saturday July 13, 2024 on the occasion of the COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Organizers of this event were Ralph McNutt, Athena Coustenis and Rosaly Lopes. Welcome addresses were given by IAA Vice President Ralph McNutt, COSPAR President Pascale Ehrenfreund and Executive Director Jean-Claude Worms. The Scientific Program is available at EVENTS/IAA Academy DAYS/Acad. Day COSPAR