World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10. These dates commemorate two events: the launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, on October 4, 1957, and the signing 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, on October 10, 1967.
World Space Week is coordinated by the United Nations with the support of the World Space Week Association (WSWA). The WSWA leads a global team of National Coordinators, who promote the celebration of World Space Week within their own countries. World Space Week consists of space education and outreach events held by space agencies, aerospace companies, schools, planetaria, museums, and astronomy clubs around the world in a common timeframe. These synchronized space events attract greater public and media attention. In 2022, World Space Week achieved record scale with more than 11,221 events in 87 nations.
The goals of World Space Week are to provide unique leverage in space outreach and education, educate people around the world about the benefits that they receive from space, and encourage international cooperation in space outreach and education. During World Space Week, space education and outreach events are organized by space agencies, aerospace companies, schools, planetaria, museums, and astronomy clubs around the world. Any activity related to space can be celebrated and registered as a World Space Week event. The event ideas include event with a space speaker, space-related music concert, space-themed art exhibit, space movie night, libraries feature space books, and more.
