http://www.iucaf.org

Just what do the letters IUCAF stand for?

• IUCAF used to stand for “Inter-Union Commission on the Allocation of Frequencies

for Space Research and Radio Astronomy”• The title was later changed to “Scientific Committee on Frequency Allocations for Radio

Astronomy and Space Science”

But “IUCAF” had become so well known that it was decided to keep the same acronym.

In 1960 ICSU set up the Inter-Union Commission “IUCAF” to work towards keeping parts of the radio spectrum clear

for passive, scientific use.• Represents URSI, the IAU and COSPAR at the

International Telecommunications Union (ITU).• Formation was partly prompted by the potential

threat from Project WEST FORD. (Needles in orbit).

• In 1961 CORF was established “to serve as the United States counterpart to IUCAF.”

ITUICSU

IAU URSI COSPAR

WRC SG 7

IUCAF

Delegations fromAdministrations

National and Regionalscientific groups(CORF, CRAF)

RadioRegulations

Studies andRecommendations

Delegations fromAdministrations

Radiocommunication Sector

RA

where (in alphabetical order):

CORF Committee on Radio FrequenciesCOSPAR Committee on Space Research CRAF Committee on Radio Astronomical FrequenciesIAU International Astronomical UnionICSU International Council of Scientific UnionsITU International Telecommunication UnionIUCAF Inter-Union Commission for the Allocation of Frequencies for Radio Astronomy and Space Science RA Radiocommunication AssemblySG 7 Radiocommunication Study Group7URSI International Union of Radio ScienceWRC World Radiocommunication Conference

ITUICSU

IAU URSI COSPAR

WRC SG 7

IUCAF

Delegations fromAdministrations

National and Regionalscientific groups(CORF, CRAF)

RadioRegulations

Studies andRecommendations

Delegations fromAdministrations

Radiocommunication Sector

RA

where (in alphabetical order):

CORF Committee on Radio FrequenciesCOSPAR Committee on Space Research CRAF Committee on Radio Astronomical FrequenciesIAU International Astronomical UnionICSU International Council of Scientific UnionsITU International Telecommunication UnionIUCAF Inter-Union Commission for the Allocation of Frequencies for Radio Astronomy and Space Science RA Radiocommunication AssemblySG 7 Radiocommunication Study Group7URSI International Union of Radio ScienceWRC World Radiocommunication Conference

SG 7 (7D,7E)

SG 8 (8D)

SG 4 (4A)

…

IUCAF MEMBERSHIP The composition of membership for IUCAF is (April 2002): URSI W.A. Baan The Netherlands M. Davis USA W. van Driel France A. van Eyken Norway P. Poiares Baptista The Netherlands K. Ruf Germany A. Tzioumis Australia IAU S. Ananthkrishnan India R.J. Cohen United Kingdom D.T. Emerson (Chair) USA M. Ohishi Japan K.F. Tapping Canada COSPAR S. Gulkis USA J. Romney USA Ex Officio Advisers: Director ITU Radio Bureau Robert Jones ITU Radio Board Ryszard Struzak Councilor Study Group 7 Kevin Hughes Councilor Study Group 1 Albert Nalbandian

“IUCAF members had to evolve from being starry-eyed astronomers as they encountered a world of politics, lobbying, entertainment, threats, espionage and bribery. On one occasion, an offer (in Geneva) of two million dollars in cash “to shut up” proved no match for dedication to the joys and excitement of twentieth-century astrophysics.”

Brian Robinson, “Frequency Allocation: The First Forty Years.”Ann Rev. Astron. Astrophys. 1999, 37:65-96