IAA PDC 2021 goes to Austria

International Academy of Astronautics selected Vienna, Austria for the 7th IAA Planetary Defense Conference on its meeting last year.

Initial date is 26-30 April, 2021.

Congratulations to the Austrian Team!

 

                                                                                       

IAA PDC 2021 for Budapest - bidding website

The Hungarian Astronautical Society in collaboration with the Scientific Association for Infocommunications Hungary (an IEEE and IEEE Communications Society sister organization) proposes to host the 7th IAA Planetary Defense Conference in Budapest in April 2021. The IAA members as official proposers are the following Dr. Iván Almár, honorary member, Dr. Előd Both, full member, János Solymosi, corresponding member.

Why is Hungary a perfect place for the Planetary Defense Conference 2021?

…the PDC 2021 goes to a new ESA member state…

Hungary was the first country to sign an agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) in the Programme for European Cooperating States (PECS). Hungary became full member of ESA in November 2015. This started a new era, offering enhanced possibilities for Hungarian research institutes and the Hungarian aerospace industry. Consequently, holding the conference in Budapest will gain great attention from the Hungarian stakeholders.

 

…the planetary defense topic is important in Hungary…

To date, there are at least two projects in Hungary connected with planetary defense.

Scientists from a number of Hungarian academic institutions have been actively involved over a long period of time with cometary research by means of space probes. Engineering experts from these institutes as well as from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics have developed and successfully operated scientific payloads and basic subsystems (e.g., central computer, energy supply system) for cometary space probes, such as the VEGA-1 and -2 spacecraft and the Rosetta Lander.

In the mountain station of the Astronomical Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Konkoly Observatory), there is an ongoing program to discover NEOs, then to track and calculate their orbits. Another group of astronomers is planning to investigate Herschel infrared data, completed through laboratory astrophysics (i.e., IR spectra) in order to characterize the surface of asteroids.

 

…the bid has support from the whole community…

The bid for hosting the conference is led by the Hungarian Astronautical Society (MANT) and the Scientific Association for Infocommunications (HTE). The bid is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Space Forum of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics and the BHE Bonn Hungary Ltd. The local organizational activities are supported by the volunteers of the Hungarian Astronautical Society; the Hungarian volunteers of the Space Generation Advisory Council; and the volunteers of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics.

 

…we have experience in conferences and space conferences…

MANT organized numerous conferences over the last years, including the 1st IAA Conference on Impact of Space on Society in Budapest, Hungary, 17-19 March 2005; the ESA’s 2ndSymposium on Space Educational Activities in April 11-13 2018, and five edition of the International Conference on Research, Technology and Education of Space series (H-SPACE 2015, H-SPACE 2016, H-SPACE 2017, H-SPACE 2018, H-SPACE 2019).

The Scientific Association for Infocommunications Hungary (HTE) is a voluntary and autonomous professional society of engineers and economists, researchers and businessmen, managers and educational, regulatory and other professionals working in the fields of telecommunications, broadcasting, electronics, information and media technologies in Hungary. Major international events organized by, or in cooperation with the were: EuroSpeech 1999 (1100 attendees); 16thIST Mobile and Wireless Communications Summit 2007 (720 attendees); IEEE WCNC 2009 (650 attendees); Future Internet Assembly 2011 (500 attendees); IEEE VTC Spring 2011 (700 attendees) IEEE International Conference on Communications 2013 (2000 attendees); IEEE PerCom 2014 (350 attendees) and EUSIPCO 2016 (625 attendees).

 

…the location has easy access from all over the world…

Budapest is easily reachable by plane, train, bus and car. Well-known airlines (including several low-cost airlines, e.g., Ryanair, WizzAir, EasyJet) have their regular flights to the Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport. Wizzair offers flights from more than 55 destinations to Budapest, Ryanair offers flights from more than 15 destinations. The airport is located only 24 kilometers from the city center, and can be easily accessed by public transport, door-to-door shuttle service, and taxis. The city also has frequent train and bus connections with neighboring countries as well.

 

…Budapest is a popular tourist city with gems…

Budapest offers unlimited possibilities to spend a couple of days in or around the city. The House of Parliament, the Royal Castle on the Castle Hill, the Gellért Hill, the Chain Bridge, numerous spas are just a few of them. Museums and galleries, churches and synagogues, palaces and historic buildings, baths and pools are presented together with the influence of Secession in the city.

 

…the event could host potential satellite events…

Before/after or during the conference, meetings of International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and Space Missions Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG) could be also hosted in Budapest.