World Space Week in Croatia: catalyzer for starting national space program

Paper number

IAC-17,E5,5,5,x41024

Author

Mr. Goran Nikolasevic, World Space Week Association, Croatia

Year

2017

Abstract

The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10. The World Space Week Association (WSWA) coordinates the global response to the declaration through its global network of national coordinators and partners. The objective of World Space Week Association is to strengthen the links between space activities and the society, but one significant possibility is to enter the educational system of the countries that celebrate the World Space Week and raise awareness of young people about the importance of activities related to space exploration. 

World Space Week in Croatia began organized celebration in 2012, after being named the first national coordinator. In the first year were 7 events registered in the global World Space Week calendar. However, there were a few individual celebrations of World Space Week before 2012, and the two events were registered in 2009 and 2011. As at that time there were no significant activities in the promotion of the space, space science and technology, celebration of the World Space Week proved to be a great tool for promoting awareness of the importance of space exploration, participation of the space industry in the national economy and understanding of new technologies. World Space Week in Croatia in 2013 doubled the number of registered events in the global calendar, and information about events quickly spread to the neighboring countries such as Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Macedonia. In 2016, the number of registered events has reached very close to the number 100, which positioned a little Croatia among the top 15 countries in the world in the number of registered WSW events.

The Republic of Croatia is not a member of the European Space Agency, although the countries of the Eastern EU launched negotiations for the access to the ESA, and now they are all associated or full members of the European Space Agency.

This paper will show influence of the World Space Week on society, including national authorities, and possibility to help to develop national space program in the small European country. In this paper will be shown and explained a detailed list of benefits and advantages for European countries, and why is important to be a member of the European Space Agency.

Abstract document

IAC-17,E5,5,5,x41024.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-17,E5,5,5,x41024.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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