They are drawn from space agencies, companies, universities, professional associations, museums, government organizations and learned societies.

After World War II, Heinz Gartmann, Gunter Loeser, and Heinz-Hermann Koelle formed the German Rocket Society.

The French group's leader, Alexandre Ananoff, organized the First International Congress for Astronautics in Paris, France, in September 1950.

"[3] There are side events including the annual IAF Workshop with the support of the United Nations,[1] which takes place during the 2 days preceding the IAC.

This allows young people to attend the IAC free of charge, and have their travel, accommodation and costs paid whilst there.

The medal is presented annually, commencing in 1986, to an educator who has demonstrated excellence in taking the fullest advantage of the resources available to him/her to promote the study of astronautics and related space sciences.