The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) is an annual meeting of the actors in the discipline of space science.

As the Second World War came to an end, the United States and the Soviet Union held different and competing political worldviews.

Six years after the Iron Curtain fell, the IAF was formed by scientists from all over Europe in the field of space research in order to collaborate once more.

During the years of the Space Race, the IAF was one of the few forums where members of both East and West Europe could meet during the annual IAC.

Under French law, the IAF is defined as a federation of member organizations where a General Assembly is responsible for making decisions.