Starting October 4th, World Space Week Association (WSWA) is hosting its 22nd annual Space Week celebration. This internationally-held event is an observance of accomplishments within space science and technology and it will last through the week to October 10th.
The World Space Week Association formed in 1980 as “Spaceweek.” to celebrate the first Moon landing. According to World Space Weeks official website, “Spaceweek had spread to over 15 nations.” by 1999. The United Nations then declared “World Space Week” to be celebrated annually around the globe. In 2000, the association held its first official celebration.
For the years following, themes have been picked with The United Nations to “increase the impact of World Space Week on all humanity further, by using a uniform theme globally.” This year’s theme, “Women in Space,” is to specifically showcase the contributions women have brought to space science and technology. The overall mission of this association, according to the United Nations, is to inspire students, demonstrate support for the space program, educate the public, and promote international interaction in space education.
Today, the event is considered to be the largest event on Earth “with over 8,000 events reported in 2019 and held in 96 countries,” as reported on WSWA’s website. According to World Space Weeks’ official website, 702 events have been scheduled so far. The association has partnered with the Space Foundation, to host their own virtual and in-person events. The Virtual panel, “Space Is Better Together,” and Space4U Podcast interview with former NASA astronaut, Dr. Kathryn Thornton are two events highlighted in a press release put out by Space Foundation.
To learn more about World Space Week, visit https://www.worldspaceweek.org.
Written by: Kathryn Cottingham
October 6, 2021
Resources
- http://spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=58339
- https://www.worldspaceweek.org/history/
- https://www.worldspaceweek.org/news/world-space-week-2020-results-announced/
- https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-space-week
