International Astronautical Congress 2014

The Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute hosted the 65th International Astronautical Congress 2014 last week, packing thousands of attendees into the Metro Toronto Convention Centre for one of the world’s premier space events. The UK was very well-represented, with the UK Space Agency staking out a large booth on the exhibition floor and almost 100 British scientists presenting papers or posters.

Prominent among the British exhibitors were Reaction Engines (whose revolutionary hybrid rocket engine we’ve featured before), Surrey Satellite Technologies (specialising in small, high-tech satellites), RAL Space (cutting-edge space research and technology development) and the UK Space Agency itself. UK Trade and Investment were out in force to promote British companies and entice Canadian companies to the UK, while SIN hit the technical sessions to stay up to date on the latest developments. The exhibit hall was fairly quiet during the day, which simply afforded more opportunity to speak to the people staffing the booths.

As a satellite activity, SIN and UKTI hosted an evening reception for around 200 delegates in the rotunda of Metro Hall. Designed as an opportunity for people to talk to UK companies away from the hustle and bustle of the convention centre, it brought together a wide range of representatives from the commercial, regulatory and research sectors. Highlights: Tons of food (thanks to YMCA Catering), COSMOSpolitan cocktails (devised by our UKTI Investment team), justified grandstanding from the UKSA.

With 2015 being a banner year for British space exploration (the Satellite Applications Catapult enters full operations and Major Tim Peake heads to the International Space Station, among other activities), we expect to be updating on space quite regularly next year.