Membership

The membership of the Academy consists of:

• Academicians:
  • Includes Honorary Academicians (very rarely nominated)
• Associate Members
• Affiliate Contributors

The specific criteria for electing, appointing, and recognizing the various classes of membership are fixed by the Bylaws.

Academicians shall be distinguished leaders in their fields who have made outstanding contributions to the development of astronautics, to international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, or to the activities of the Academy.

Associate Members shall be recognized authorities and experts who have made contributions in their fields to the development of astronautics in their countries and are dedicated to furthering international cooperation in the aerospace sciences.

The rigorous admission process to the International Academy of Astronautics starts by first being nominated as Associate Member. The consideration of a candidate requires:

• a nomination by at least 3 Academicians and
• a nomination of non-members who have made outstanding contributions to the field of astronautics as demonstrated by:
  1. membership in their national academies of science or engineering;
  2. attainment of the highest grade in their professional organization; or
  3. other types of peer recognition shall also be eligible for nomination.

International nominations are welcomed. Consequently a nomination supported by three Academicians (Members) of the same nationality is rejected.

Associate Members shall be elected by Academicians for a term of 5 years. An Associate Member shall be eligible for a new election as Academicians after 2 years of service to the Academy. An Associate Member who would not be elected as Academician shall cease to be an Associate Member of the Academy.

Furthermore the Academy has created an Affiliate Contributor membership for emerging professional advancing the Academy’s work through various activities.

Affiliate Contributors shall be professionals who have started to make significant contributions in their fields and are advancing the work of the Academy through outstanding contributions in areas such as lAA Cosmic Studies, publications and conferences. More specifically:

• This new category of Affiliate Contributors will allow the International Academy of Astronautics for the first time to recognize the many professionals who assist in the work of the Academy and place them in the pipeline for consideration to be elected as Associate Members of the IAA.
• Candidate for Affiliate Contributor shall be nominated by at least 5 Academicians from at least 2 countries.
• Those nominees once approved by the President will be appointed as an Affiliate Contributor for a five-year term, renewable.