International Deep Space Exploration Association Inaugurated

Hefei, July 7 – A new global space-science body, The International Deep Space Exploration Association, was inaugurated in Hefei, capital city of east China’s Anhui Province, aiming to pool world talent to push the frontiers of lunar, planetary and asteroid-defense missions.

The association was jointly initiated by China’s Deep Space Exploration Laboratory (DSEL), the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center (CLEP), the Chinese Society of Astronautics (CSA), the Chinese Society of Space Research (CSSR) and France’s Planetary Exploration Horizon 2061.

50 founding members—academics and specialists from 19 countries including China, France, Italy, South Africa, Canada and Spain—have already signed up.

Wu Weiren, chief designer of China’s lunar-exploration program and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), was elected IDSEA’s first President.

According to its charter, the IDSEA will be a non-profit, non-governmental organization devoted to international collaboration in space science and technology.

It plans to track global trends in deep-space exploration, stage high-level academic conferences, accelerate the transfer of space technologies to wider industry, run public exhibitions and training program, publish journals and sponsor major projects as well as awards for outstanding scientists.

The new body is expected to serve as an open platform to advance human understanding of the universe and to foster innovation for the benefit of all.

Tag: Department of International Affairs of CAST