World Space Week

World Space Week
World Space Week logo
Observed by	Worldwide
Type	United Nations
Observances	more than 95 countries
Begins	October 4
Ends	October 10
Date	October 4
Frequency	annual

World Space Week (WSW) is an annual holiday observed from October 4 to 10 in over 95 nations throughout the world. World Space Week is officially defined as "an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition".^[1] World Space week is organized every year by coordination of the World Space Week Association (WSWA) and the United Nations (UN).^[2]

History

On December 6, 1999, The United Nations General Assembly declared World Space Week as an annual event celebration to be commemorated between October 4 and 10. The choice of dates was based on recognition of two important dates in space history: the launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, on October 4, 1957; and the signing of the Outer Space Treaty on October 10, 1967.^[3]

World Space Week is the largest annual space event in the world.^[4] In 2019, World Space Week was celebrated with over 8,000 events in 96 countries. Events included school activities, exhibitions, government events, and special activities at planetaria around the world.

Annual themes

Each year, a theme for World Space Week is established by the Board of Directors of World Space Week Association. Under the theme "The Moon: Gateway to the Stars", many events of World Space Week 2019 focused on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing, plans for human exploration of the Moon, and Lunar observation by telescope.^[5][6]

In 2022, theme of World Space Week is "Space and Sustainability."^[7]. In 2021, "Women in Space" was the theme. In 2020, the theme for World Space Week was "Satellites Improve Life", and SES CEO Steve Collar was World Space Week 2020 Honorary Chair.^[8]

Activities and observances

The World Space Week Association is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, which is supported by national coordinators in over 50 nations. It is led by an all-volunteer Board of Directors including Buzz Aldrin, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Tom Hanks, Dumitru Prunariu, and space leaders from around the world. Its goals are to educate people around the world about the benefits that they receive from space, encourage use of space for sustainable economic development, foster enthusiastic education and interest in science and cooperation between nations through space outreach and education.^[9]

The association provides resources for educators in grade K-12.^[10]

A Calendar of Events from nations celebrating World Space Week is available.^[11]

SPACE India is the only Regional Coordinator of World Space Week In India.

See also

• International Day of Human Space Flight

References

1. World Space Week, General Assembly, The United Nations.
2. "8 October 2022 Daily Current Affairs | SSC | Banking | Defence | State PSC | UPSC". PendulumEdu. 2022-10-08. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
3. World Space Week. Archived 2012-10-12 at the Wayback Machine. UN General Assembly.
4. UN launches into World Space Week highlighting contributions of space science to humanity. The United Nations News Center; October 4, 2012.
5. "Report on World Space Week 2000/2007". Worldspaceweek.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
6. "UN Report on World Space Week 2007, ST/SPACE/38". Worldspaceweek.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
7. "World Space Week | Celebrate UN-declared World Space Week, 4-10 October annually, the largest space event in the world".
8. "SES CEO Steve Collar Encourages Industry to Celebrate World Space Week | World Space Week". Retrieved 2021-04-25.
9. "About World Space Week". Worldspaceweek.org. Archived from the original on 2012-10-12. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
10. "Teacher Activity Guide". Worldspaceweek.org. Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
11. [1]. World Space Week.

External links

• World Space Week The United Nations
• World Space Week website