Each year since 1985, ASE has convened an annual Planetary Congress to serve as a forum where members interact professionally and develop ASE programs. The week-long event generates communication on issues of common interest to the international space community, government agencies and the public. Members exchange information about their national space programs, make technical presentations on selected topics relevant to human space flight operations, discuss the Congress theme, and present the ASE Planetary Award to a person who has made an outstanding contribution related to that theme. Past recipients of the award include Jacques Yves Cousteau, Oleg Gazenko, Gerard O'Neill, Thomas Paine, Boris Raushenbakh, Yash Pal, Hendrick van de Hulst, Hans Dietrich Genscher, Isaac Asimov, Hermann Bondi, Yuri Gagarin, Stanislaw Lem, Nicolas Matte , José María Figueres and Edith Cresson and Virgiliu Constantinescu.

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 space safety, rescue and human performance, often resulting in published technical proceedings and papers. ASE regularly sponsors international discussions among astronauts on space flight operations.

With respect to education, ASE seeks to stimulate interest in science and engineering and inspire in students a life-long commitment to education. ASE provides opportunities for its members to share their knowledge and experiences with the general public, and in particular with tomorrow's leaders–the world's children. ASE members believe that increased public understanding of ecological and technological issues will help us make wise choices for our environment and for the future direction of space exploration. ASE includes among its educational activities annual international member lecture tours, sponsorship of space-related film, drama and video productions, cooperation in the publication of space-related books and calendars and collaboration with the educational programs of other space-advocacy organizations such as the Challenger Center, National Space Society, United States Space Foundation, and Planetary Society.

ASE considers it important to provide its members with opportunities to communicate their unique perspective of Earth to help stimulate humanity's sense of responsibility for the future of our planet. ASE programs seek to expand the important role space plays in monitoring the impact of human activity on the Earth, since the environmental knowledge gained from space is useful for the resolution of many ecological problems. Among ASE's premier activities in the area of environmental education have been the publication of the international best-seller The Home Planet in hard and soft cover, participation in the United Nations Earth Day and Mission to Planet Earth ceremonies, lead partnership in the “Arbor Project” international forest conservation effort, and sponsorship of environmental films and videos.

ASE maintains a commitment to fostering international cooperation in space exploration. Since space exploration is a technology-intensive and financially expensive activity, ASE members understand that when many countries jointly invest their resources and ingenuity in common undertakings, all stand to benefit. Chief among ASE's activities in this area are professional exchanges and facilities visits among astronauts of different national space programs, sponsorship of international dialogue on space rescue, and a series of high level invitational discussions which have resulted in several papers on new opportunities for space cooperation in the changing global political environment. ASE is committed to continuing its work to improve the quality and effectiveness of the human enterprise in space. Global developments suggest that international cooperation in space science and exploration will continue to expand in the 21st century. The Association of Space Explorers will continue to contribute both leadership and vision as humanity moves outward from our home planet and toward the stars.