Figure: Zhou Jianping delivered a report on IAC 2015. (By Song Zhengyu)

【October 13, 2015, CMSP News】On Oct. 12, 2015, the 66th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2015) kicked off in Jerusalem International Convention Center, Israel. More than 2,200 representatives from global space industry conducted exchanges surrounding the future of space and mankind. Zhou Jianping, Chief Designer of China Manned Space Engineering Program, presented the meeting and delivered a report.

The annual IAC is hosted by International Astronautical Federation. The theme of this session of IAC is “Space --the Gateway for Mankind’s Future.” A delegation led by CMSP Chief Designer Zhou Jianping presented the opening ceremony of IAC, visited exhibitions as well as conducted exchanges with officials, scholars and experts from relevant space agencies and organizations.

In the afternoon of Oct. 12, Zhou Jianping delivered a “The Project of China's Space Station” report at the Global Network Forum, illustrated the status-quo of the developmental progress, application and international cooperation of the China's space station. The report received warm response, and the participants enthusiastically raised questions, expressed great interests in the construction and application of China's space station, development of space telescopes and international cooperation.

IAC attracts widespread participation from global space industry for its high level, large scale and wide-spread influence, which is known as “the Olympic Games for the Astronautical Industry”. IAC 2015 was a five-day event on Oct. 12-16. A space exhibition was held concurrently, with the participation of over 100 space companies and agencies in total, including famous companies like Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, Airbus, as well as space agencies from Germany, France, Italy, UK and Japan. Some Chinese companies, such as HEAD AEROSPACE and Beijing Sunwise Space, also participated the exhibition. (Zhong Zaitian)