S. Korea to host largest Int`l Astronautical Congress next week

By Lee Joon-seung
SEOUL, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is ready to host the largest ever gathering
of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) next week that aims to promote
peaceful use of space, local organizers for the event said Wednesday.
The five-day gathering that kicks off Monday in Daejeon 164km south of Seoul is
expected to attract a record 3,000 scientists, businessmen and government
policymakers from around the world, the science ministry and Korea Aerospace
Research Institute said.
Organizers said that experts from 60 countries will take part in "highlight
lectures" outlining space exploration and technical sessions that are part of the
60th IAC gathering.
A young professional program and so-called late breaking news events that can
help gauge the latest development trends in the field are to be held, along with
the potential role of astronautical sciences to deal with global climate change.
"Over 150 space-related topics are to be discussed with 1,585 scientific papers
to be released that will help talks on international cooperation, and fuel
support for aerospace industries, climate change and space exploration," a
ministry official said.
He added that top officials from such organizations as the U.S. National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace
Exploration Agency and the Chinese National Space Administration will be present
for discussions and sharing of views.
In addition, the United Nations-International Astronautical Federation workshop,
the International Academy of Astronautics, will be held before the start of the
main session.
The congress, first held in Paris in 1950, is the single largest conference on
space science, with 28 countries having played host so far. It aims to promote
the peaceful use of space, supports research and studies and sets regimes to
regulate development.
South Korea won the right to host the event in 2006, beating out challenges from
Prague and Shanghai. The country is the fourth in Asia to organize the IAC
congress after Japan, China and India.
Organizers, meanwhile, said that South Korea wants to use the event as a stepping
stone so the country can join the ranks of the world's aerospace leaders.
South Korea, which entered the space exploration field 30-40 years behind leading
countries, launched its first satellite-carrying rocket late last month. It plans
to launch a second rocket in May 2010. The first launch has been deemed a
"half-success" since the satellite payload failed to settle into its planned
orbit.
Choi Heung-sik, secretary general of the local organizing committee, said the
congress would help fuel cooperation between South Korea and overseas space
agencies and experts, as well as helping connect the country's prowess in
information technology with technology needed for exploration.
The country currently relies on Russia's assistance in developing its space
program, but the science ministry said it aims to develop a wholly indigenous
rocket by 2018, and build a lunar lander probe by 2025.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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