World Space Week 2009

4 - 10 October 2009

UN-Declared World Space Week,
Celebrates its 10th Anniversary

From 4 to 10 October, hundreds of organizations across the globe celebrate UN-declared World Space Week, the largest annual public space event on Earth. With public and school activities expected in more than 60 countries, World Space Week celebrates the contribution of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.

World Space Week is being celebrated for the 10th time since its declaration by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999.

"Space for Education“ is the theme for World Space Week 2009. “Teachers can inspire students in their classrooms by using the excitement of space. Space instills enthusiasm, curiosity and wonder in children. It's a powerful tool to fuel their motivation to learn,“ said Dennis Stone, volunteer President of the World Space Week Association.

Highlights of World Space Week 2009 include:

• Tenth anniversary of World Space Week celebrated in some 60 nations
• Circue du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté broadcasting from space
• Space Festival and International Astronautical Congress in Daejeon, Republic of Korea
• Week-long aerospace celebration across the Hawaiian islands
• Public and students sending messages into space via SentForever
• NASA’s LCROSS mission impacts the Moon
• Space Fest Africa in Pretoria, South Africa
• Events celebrating the International Year of Astronomy
• Teachers globally inspiring students using the excitement of space.

Related links:
::  UNESCO Space Education Programme (More)
::  International Year of Astronomy (More)
::  Captivate them young! (A World of Science, Vol. 7, N° 4, October-December 2009) p.17 [.pdf]

• Source:UNESCO SC
• 04-10-2009