The precursors to the AIAA Space and Astronautics Forum and Exposition (AIAA SPACE Forum) date back to 1998. In that year, AIAA organized the Defense and Civil Space Programs Conference and Exhibit in Huntsville, Alabama. Sponsored by Lockheed Martin, this event presented a unique forum dedicated to the latest developments in space programs and to the use of space assets for defense, civil, and commercial applications. The conference was supported by the Air Force, Army, and Navy as well as NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. 

In 1999, the event transitioned to the AIAA Space Technology Conference and Exhibition. It was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, under the auspices of the Air Force Research Laboratory in cooperation with the Space Technology Alliance. Offering a venue for researchers, system developers, and managers from government, industry, and academia to discuss recent progress is space systems and technologies and policies affecting the future direction of the U.S. space program. 

Starting in 2000, SPACE became the premier space event in the United States, each year addressing the critical issues facing the industry and bringing the community together to discuss challenges and opportunities and to recognize and celebrate achievements.

In 2014, the event evolved to become the AIAA SPACE Forum with a renewed focus on serving the broader space community. From the beginning, AIAA’s space-related conference has had a hybrid program, with plenary and panel sessions focused on policy and management issues as well as a strong technical program featuring technical paper presentations in space operations, space systems, space transportation, space and Earth science, space exploration, and many other topics.