| Association of Space Explorers |
ASE PLANETARY CONGRESSES
As the only professional association for astronauts, ASE supports the advancement of space exploration by providing opportunities for communication among space professionals at the international level. The Association has worked closely with other international professional space organizations to expand and invigorate international dialogue on such issues as asteroid impact threats and hazards as well as international cooperation and on-orbit compatibility, crew safety, human performance and rescue. ASE regularly sponsors international discussions among astronauts on space flight operations.
The Association holds an annual Congress, attended by member astronauts and cosmonauts from around the world. The week-long event includes technical sessions featuring updates on human activities in space and briefings on future plans for low earth orbit and beyond. The attending astronauts and cosmonauts also dedicate time throughout the week, particularly on Community Day, to meet with and inspire future scientists, engineers and explorers all over the host country.
UPCOMING CONGRESSES
XXXVI Congress November, 2025 | XXXVII Congress | XXXVIII Congress |
PAST CONGRESSES
Congress | Theme | Awards |
XXXV Congress 2024 | Crystal Helmet Leonov Medallion Perchatka |
XXXIV Congress 2023 | "The Future is in the Skies" | Crystal Helmet Leonov Medallion Perchatka |
XXXIII Congress 2021 | Crystal Helmet Leonov Medallion Perchatka |
XXXII Congress 2019 | Crystal Helmet Leonov Medallion Perchatka |
XXXI Congress 2018 | Crystal Helmet Leonov Medallion Perchatka |
XXX Congress 2017 | "Space is My Future" | Crystal Helmet Sylvestre Maurice Leonov Medallion Distinguished Member Perchatka |
XXIX Congress 2016 | "Born to Explore" | Crystal Helmet Johannes Ordner Leonov Medallion Perchatka |
XXVIII Congress 2015 | "Inspired by Space" | Crystal Helmet Sven Grahn Leonov Medallion Distinguished Member Perchatka |
XXVII Congress 2014 | "Cooperation – To Realize Humanity's Space Dream Together" | Crystal Helmet Wang Yongzhi Leonov Medallion Distinguished Member Perchatka |
XXVI Congress Cologne, Germany | "Citizens of Space – Stewards of Earth" | Crystal Helmet Heinz Riesenhuber Leonov Medallion Distinguished Member Perchatka |
XXV Congress Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | "Space Technology for a Knowledge-Based Society" | Crystal Helmet Charles Elachi Leonov Medallion Distinguished Member Perchatka |
XXIV Congress 2011 | "He Invited Us All to Space" | Crystal Helmet Boris Chertok Leonov Medallion Perchatka |
XXIII Congress 2010 | "1 Planet, 1 Hope, 1 Future" | Crystal Helmet Tun Mahatir Mohammad Leonov Medallion Distinguished Member Perchatka |
XXII Congress 2009 | "Space – Opportunities for All" | Crystal Helmet Boris Valnicek Leonov Medallion Distinguished Member |
XXI Congress 2008 | "Exploring Space, Inspiring Planetary Stewardship" | Crystal Helmet William E. Boeing, Jr. Leonov Medallion Kathy Fletcher, Greg Nickels, Bonnie J. Dunbar |
XX Congress 2007 | "50 Years in Space – Launching into the Future" | Crystal Helmet Kenneth Pounds Leonov Medallion Colin McInnes, Alex Blackwood, Jake Garn, Sergei Avdeev |
XIX Congress 2005 Salt Lake City, USA | "Our Destiny in Space – Worlds Without Borders" | Crystal Helmet
Leonov Medallion Gennadi Strekalov, Charlie Walker |
XVIII Congress 2003 Tokyo, Japan | "Learning From Space, Enriching World Culture" | Crystal Helmet Lorna Onizuka Leonov Medallion Jiro Kondo, Tadao Ulmesao, Mamoru Mohri |
XVII Congress 2001 Almaty, Kazakhstan | "Gateway to Space Exploration & Environmental Protection" | Crystal Helmet Nursultan Nazarbayev Leonov Medallion Sultan Sultangazi, Toktar Aubakirov |
XVI Congress 2000 Madrid, Spain | "A New Space for Humanity" | Crystal Helmet The Prince of Asturias Leonov Medallion Michael Lopez-Alegria, Pedro Duque |
XV Congress 1999 Bucharest, Romania | "Space & Astronomy – Toward the New Millennium" | Crystal Helmet Virgiliu Constantinescu Leonov Medallion Emil Constantinescu, Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu |
XIV Congress 1998 Brussels, Belgium | "Space & Education – A Message to the Youth" | Crystal Helmet Edith Cresson Leonov Medallion Kajsa Dahlstrom, Dirk Frimout |
XIII Congress 1997 San José, Costa Rica | "Space Technology for Sustainable Development" | Crystal Helmet José Maria Figueres Leonov Medallion Rodrigo Gamez, Guy de Teramond, Franklin Chang-Diaz |
XII Congress 1996 Montreal, Canada | "Cooperation in Space – Progress for Humanity" | Crystal Helmet Nicolas Matescu Matte Leonov Medallion Steve MacLean |
XI Congress 1995 Warsaw, Poland | "Space & Contemporary Society" | Crystal Helmet Stanislaw Lem
Leonov Medallion Lech Walensa, Pope John Paul II, Miroslaw Hermaszewski |
X Congress 1994 Moscow/Lake Baikal, Russia | "Space and Ecology" | Crystal Helmet Yuri Gagarin (posthumous) Leonov Medallion Thor Heyerdahl, Yuri Koptev, John Fabian, Vladimir Kovolyonov |
IX Congress 1993 Vienna, Austria | "Space For Life" | Crystal Helmet Hermann Bondi Leonov Medallion |
VIII Congress 1992 Washington DC, USA | "To Mars Together" | Crystal Helmet Isaac Asimov Leonov Medallion |
VII Congress 1991 Berlin, Germany | "Space Has No Boundaries" | Crystal Helmet Hans Dietrich Genscher Leonov Medallion |
VI Congress 1990 Groningen, The Netherlands | "Space Brings People Together" | Crystal Helmet H.C. van den Hulst Leonov Medallion |
V Congress 1989 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | "Space for Earth" | Crystal Helmet Yash Pal |
IV Congress 1988 Sofia, Bugaria | "Space and Evolution" | Crystal Helmet Boris Raushenbach |
III Congress 1987 Mexico City, Mexico | "The Next Generation in Space" | Crystal Helmet Thomas Paine |
II Congress 1986 Budapest, Hungary | "Towards Space Civilization" | Crystal Helmet Oleg Gazenko, Gerard O'Neill |
I Congress 1985 Cernay, France | "The Home Planet" | Crystal Helmet Jacques-Yves Cousteau |
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