Countdown to World Space Week, Oct. 4-10 Celebrations Planned in Over 20 Countries
Public events around the globe are planned for World Space Week, Oct. 4-10, to celebrate the contribution that space makes to the betterment of life on Earth.
The UN General Assembly declared World Space Week last year. Since then, over 20 nations have responded by planning events that link the public and students with space in a myriad of ways.
Highlights
Major activities planned for World Space Week 2000 include:
See www.spaceweek.org for a list of World Space Week locations and event information.
Increasing Public Awareness
According to the UN, the primary goal of World Space Week is “increasing awareness among decision makers and civil society of the benefits of the peaceful uses of space sciences and technology for sustainable development.”
The dates of World Space Week reflect significant milestones in humanity’s expansion into space:
Inspiring Students
During World Space Week, thousands of teachers will use the excitement of space to inspire children to learn math and science. Teachers who download the World Space Week Teacher Activity Guide from www.spaceweek.org and use it that week may quality for cash grants sponsored by Best Buy. Students will also compete for scholarships through math and science projects with a space theme, such as inventing a sport or game that can only be played in zero-G.
Countries Reporting Plans to Participate in World Space Week 2000
Chronology of World Space Week
30 Jul 1999: All nations attending UNISPACE III in Vienna call on the UN General Assembly to declare Oct. 4-10 annually as World Space Week. (See the Vienna Declaration, below.) www.un.or.at/OOSA/unisp-3/docs/rep1.pdf
5 Oct 1999: Meeting with UN representatives in Amsterdam, the Spaceweek International Association Board of Directors agrees to merge the 20-year-old celebration of Spaceweek with World Space Week effective in 2000. www.spaceweek.org/Who_is_Involved/SIA/Directors/directors.html
29 Oct 1999: A committee of the General Assembly approves the resolution with the new dates. www.un.org/News/Press/docs/1999/19991029.gaspd170.doc.html
6 Dec 1999: The full General Assembly votes to proclaim World Space Week. www.un.org/News/Press/docs/1999/19991206.ga9677.doc.html
11 Feb 2000: The General Assembly Resolution is released www.un.org/documents/ga/res/54/a54r068.pdf (see item 7).
8 June 2000: The UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space reviews plans for World Space Week. www.oosa.unvienna.org/Reports/COPREP00E.pdf
4 October 2000: Launch of first World Space Week, beginning at UN Headquarters and including events worldwide. www.spaceweek.org/Locations/locations.html
Vienna Declaration
At the at UNISPACE III conference in Vienna, Austria, July 19-30, 1999, world space leaders called upon the UN General Assembly to declare World Space Week:
“Recalling that 4 October 1957 was the date of the launch into outer space of the first human-made Earth satellite, SPUTNIK I, thus opening the way for space exploration;
“Recalling also that 10 October 1967 was the date of the entry into force of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies;
“Decide, in order to contribute to the achievement of the objectives of UNISPACE III, in particular that of increasing awareness among decision makers and civil society of the benefits of the peaceful uses of space sciences and technology for sustainable development, to invite the General Assembly to declare, according to its procedures, ‘World Space Week’ between 4 and 10 October for the yearly celebration at the international level of the contribution that space science and technology can make to the betterment of the human condition.”
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Notes to Editors
