‘Space Unites the World’!
This is the theme for the celebration of the 2018 World Space Week on October 4 to 10, now on its 19th year.
The United Nations announced this as the world prepares for the event, celebrated annually on the strength of UN General Assembly Resolution 54/68 proclaiming the event on December 6, 1999.
“It celebrates the role of space in bringing the world closer together. The theme is inspired by UNISPACE+50, an historic gathering of world’s space leaders which took place in June 2018.
“UNISPACE+50 promotes cooperation between world space leaders and emerging space nations and helps space exploration activities become open and inclusive on a global scale,” the UN said.
Here’s Diwata-1 microsatellite, which marks Philippines’ first-ever own eye-in-the-sky. Being inside Japan Exploration Agency (JAXA) ‘Clean Room’ in Tsukuba City, Japan, Philippine Star’s Rainier Allan Ronda (right) and then Manila Bulletin’s Edd K. Usman have to wear a face mask like everybody who enters the ultra-sensitive facility. (JAXA photo)
It added the General Assembly proclaimed World Space Week in celebration of the contributions of space science and technology for the human conditions’ betterment.
Furthermore, the UN said, the dates of the global observance commemorate the launch on October 4, 1957 of the world’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik I, as well as the entry into force on October 10, 1967, of the “Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.”
The UN emphasized that “World Space Week is the largest annual space event in the world…helps build up the workforce of tomorrow by inspiring students, demonstrates visible public support for the space programme, educates the public about space activities, and fosters international cooperation in space outreach and education.”
Philippines’ ‘Magnificent 9,’ the Filipino engineer-pioneers in building a satellite. (EKU)
Over 94 nations have participated in the celebration by 2007, eight years after the proclamation, with 2,250 events and over 1.3 million attendees.
The UN said the World Space Week Association Board of Directors select the them each year in close coordination with the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs.
In choosing the theme for a particular year, the Board makes sure it will serve to be a broad guide to World Space Week participants so as to tailor the content of their programmes.
“The theme is selected to increase the impact of World Space Week on all humanity further, by using a uniform theme globally,” the UN said. (EKU)