World Space Week is held October 4-10 every year. Read about the celebration of this international event around the world.
This week marks an international event known as World Space Week. Established in 1999 by the United Nations General Assembly, World Space Week is held annually from October 4-10. The dates were chosen to commemorate two important events in the history of space exploration: the October 4, 1957 launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, by the Soviet Union, and the October 10, 1967 signing of a landmark international treaty governing space exploration and the peaceful use of resources in space.
History and Purpose of World Space Week
World Space Week is an international celebration of space science and the benefits enjoyed by the human race as a result of space-related technology. Goals of the festivities include arousing public interest in space exploration, educating children about space, and promoting international cooperation in space-related endeavors.
The first World Space Week, held in 2000, was celebrated in 31 countries. The event has grown steadily, with 54 countries participating in 2007. Participants come from every continent except Antarctica. The newest participants are Cameroon, Ethiopia, Haiti, and Kenya.
The World Space Week Association, a non-government, non-profit organization, coordinates the events each year with over 50 participating countries.
Celebration of World Space Week 2009
Last year, the theme of World Space Week 2008 was "Exploring the Universe." This theme related to astronomy, human travel in space, exploitation of space resources, and the goal of extraterrestrial human colonization. For 2009, the theme is "Space for Education" as Space can help excite and motivate students to learn.
Events around the world have been scheduled to commemorate World Space Week. Pretoria, South Africa wild hold Space Fest Africa and another Space Festival and International Astronautical Congress will be held in Daejeon, South Korea. There will even be a week-long celebration in Hawaii.
Hundreds of other local and national events are planned in countries across the globe. Many of the festivities are educational in nature, focused on primary and secondary school students. Other events include everything from public lectures to festivals and art exhibitions.
Space technology impacts innumerable aspects of modern human life. The international cooperation of World Space Week symbolizes the unity of the people on Earth in the desire to pursue of space exploration.