What: World Space Week

When: October 4-10 annually, according to a 1999 United Nations General Assembly declaration

2022 theme: “Space and Sustainability”

2022 events: See world map for details

Educator resources: Science and language arts activities for students in grades 5 to 9 based on Robert A. Heinlein’s short story, “Have Spacesuit – Will Travel,” educator guides, and classroom lesson plans and other resources from space agencies around the world, in multiple languages.

World Space Week celebrates the contributions of science, technology, engineering, and math to improving society and the human contition. It began with a 1999 United Nations General Assembly declaration and commemorates two events:

• October 4, 1957: Launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus opening the way for space exploration
• October 10, 1967: The signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activites of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.

Since its establishment, World Space Week has grown to include thousands of space education and outreach events held by space agencies, aerospace companies, schools, planetaria, museums, and astronomy clubs around the world. In 2021, more than 6,418 events celebrating Women in Space took place in 96 nations – a record!

2022 highlight events include a six-day virtual space mission for kids 12 and up from Australia. Check the world map for events near you!

The goals of World Space Week include:

• Educating people around the world about the benefits that they receive from space
• Encouraging greater use of space for sustainable economic development
• Exciting young people about science, technology, engineering, and math
• Fostering international cooperation in space outreach and education

Filed under: Class Activities, Grades 6-8, K-12 Education News, K-12 Outreach Programs, Special Features, Web Resources

Tags: Aerospace, Internet Resources, NASA, Resources for Teachers, space exploration, Sustainability, United Nations, weather satellites, World Space Week