What is World Space Week?
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:
- 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 Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.
Theme: Building the Future of Space Habitats - Moon, Mars, and Beyond
Activity List:
- Build a Moon Base: In this activity, guests are prompted to build an Artemis base for humans to live and work on the Moon.
- Design, Build and Test a Human Landing System: NASA and commercial space corporations are developing a lunar human landing system. This is a giant leap for returning a sustainable human presence on the Moon. Based on the engineering design efforts with the Apollo program’s Lunar Module, use history to design, build, and test a simulated the next generation Artemis HLS.
- Living and Working in Space (Interactive Artifact cart)
- Planetary Geology: Compare and contrast how rocks from Earth, Moon, and Mars are similar and different. Note how they can be used to make building materials for habitats and discuss what elements and minerals can be mined from them to use for space exploration.