World Space Week : An Efficient Tool For Worldwide Space Education And Outreach

Paper number

IAC-07-E1.3.10

Author

Mr. Max Grimard, EADS Astrium, France

Coauthor

Mr. Dennis A. Stone, United States

Year

2007

Abstract

United Nations-declared World Space Week, 4-10 October annually, is an international celebration of the contribution that space science and technology makes to the betterment of the human condition.  Since its declaration in 1999, World Space Week has become the largest annual public space event on Earth.  It has been celebrated by a wide variety of organizations in some 50 nations to educate the public about space, demonstrate public support for space to government leaders, and use space to inspire students about learning.  

By synchronizing many education and outreach programs during World Space Week which then attract media attention, the global space community has achieved much greater attention to space than its member organizations can achieve alone. However some progress has still to made, in particular to catch the involvement of the space industry, and the interest of the large audience media.

In 2007, World Space Week will begin on the 50th anniversary of the Space Age.  Given the historic significance of this anniversary, a great level of activity is planned for World Space Week this year.  This in turn is expected to attract unprecedented levels of global awareness and impact.  

This paper provides background on UN-declared World Space Week, including the significance of the dates, how it is organized, scope of past participation, and examples of past results.  The paper then provides an overview of the many special activities planned for World Space Week 2007, the 50th anniversary of the Space Age, including both retrospective as well as forward-looking programs.  Finally, the paper offers recommendations for continued focus by the global space community of outreach programs in this timeframe in 2008 and beyond. In particular possible ways to increase the visibility of the event are discussed, using the large media, and a highest involvement of the space industry in the space faring countries.

Abstract document

IAC-07-E1.3.10.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-E1.3.10.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.