The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) is organised each year by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) and its associates. IAC 2006 is being held in Valencia's City of Arts, attended by over 2500 delegates - including the heads of all the major space agencies, industry, academia the media and the space-interested public. For organisations like ESA this is an excellent opportunity to share the latest information on current and future space projects and programmes. The ESA exhibition "from Earth to Space and back" takes visitors on a journey of discovery, with highlights of the European space programme, and is open to both professionals and the general public. This year there is a special focus on students and young space professionals, with lectures and presentations, as well as the opportunity to meet with leading figures in the space world.