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The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) is considered a non-governmental and non-profit organization. Signed into effect on September of 1951 by the countries of Argentina, the UK, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland—the organization was founded in London during the 2nd International Astronautical Congress (IAC). Based in Paris, it consists of 165 members from 44 countries drawn from all walks of life. Linked with the " International Academy of Astronautics and the International Institute of Space Law with whom the IAF organizes the annual International Astronautical Congress,  it works in close association with the United Nations.

In 2007 this was the organization that discussed the issue of space tourism, while this coming October 9-16, 2009, its 60th Congress in Daejeon, Republic of Korea is being organized by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) and Daejeon Metropolitan City. Considered the 3rd largest city in the Republic of Korea, it is home to many of the Republic of Korea's hi-tech industries. Providing an international focus for many areas including the global space industry, academic researchers and worldwide students—a wide diversity of space-related topics will be included in the theme of "Space for Sustainable Peace and Progress".

The Korea Aerospace Research, host of the 2009 IAF, strives to develop and use space technology for the benefit of humanity with its future plans, which will include its search for knowledge to the Moon, the Solar System, and beyond:

• Exploring the solar system and the wider universe
• Human exploration of the Moon, Mars, and Space life sciences
• Current and future prospects for new research and developing technologies in the microgravity
• Hazards created by debris from activities in space low-Earth orbits
• Search for extraterrestrial intelligence

The IAF has initiated a development of networking projects. Its first project is the Earth Observation and Environment monitoring such things as the BEAR project, in conjunction with GEOSS.  Other projects include the Exploration Station —an IAF educational project that is working with UNESCO and CSIS with school students in mind. In 2003, the Education Database was initited after a workshop recommendation by IAF/UNESCO/ISU in order to have a global Directory of Space Education Projects set up. It would offer to contact persons, initiators, and organizers of Space Education a worldwide guide to events or projects.Following the UNISPACE III Conference in Vienna in 1999, a special feature was designed of three fields, providing information on data, results, and accessibility of projects from developing nations.

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