World Space Week is an annual celebration of space 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. It is one of the largest space events in the world, with thousands of activities and events taking place in over 95 countries.
But how is the theme of World Space Week 2023 chosen each year? And what is the theme for 2023? And most importantly, how can you celebrate this amazing week and learn more about space and entrepreneurship? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and give you some ideas on how to join the global celebration of space.
How the World Space Week Theme is Selected
Each year, the World Space Week Association (WSWA) selects a theme for the upcoming World Space Week to provide a focus for the activities and events that take place throughout the world. The WSWA is a non-governmental organization that supports the UN in organizing and promoting World Space Week. The WSWA Board consists of global space leaders, such as astronauts, scientists, educators, and industry representatives.
The WSWA Board selects the theme based on several criteria, such as:
- Relevance to the current and future state of space affairs
- Appeal to various stakeholders, such as governments, industry, academia, media, and public
- Potential to inspire students and educators to use space as a learning tool
- Alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and other global initiatives
The WSWA Board also considers suggestions from the public, who can submit their ideas for the theme through an online form. The WSWA Board then reviews all the submissions and selects the theme that best meets the criteria.
World Space Week Theme for 2023
The theme for World Space Week 2023 is “Space and Entrepreneurship”. This theme recognizes the growing significance of the commercial space industry in space, and the increasing opportunities for space entrepreneurship and new benefits of space developed by space entrepreneurs. With miniaturization and decreasing launch costs, it is now possible for a small business to build and launch a small satellite, and for entrepreneurs to create valuable new data products for governments and industry.
World Space Week 2023 will inspire students worldwide to study STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and business, and offer space companies the opportunity to recruit the workforce needed for the expanding commercial space industry. It will also serve as a forum for important discussions on the transition of Low Earth Orbit to a more entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Some examples of space entrepreneurship that illustrate the theme are:
- SpaceX, a private company founded by Elon Musk, that develops reusable rockets and spacecraft, such as Falcon 9, Dragon, Starlink, and Starship. SpaceX aims to revolutionize space transportation and enable human exploration and settlement of Mars.
- Planet Labs, a company founded by former NASA engineers, operates a fleet of over 150 small satellites called Doves that capture high-resolution images of Earth every day. Planet Labs provides data and insights to various sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, disaster response, and human rights.
- Blue Origin, a company founded by Jeff Bezos, that develops technologies to enable human access to space at lower cost and increased reliability. Blue Origin’s projects include New Shepard, a suborbital rocket for space tourism, New Glenn, an orbital rocket for launching satellites and payloads, and Blue Moon, a lunar lander for delivering cargo and humans to the Moon.
Celebrating World Space Week
There are many ways to celebrate World Space Week and learn more about space and entrepreneurship. You can join or organize an event in your area or online, such as:
- A webinar or panel discussion with space entrepreneurs or experts
- A workshop or competition on designing or building a small satellite or a space-related product or service
- A quiz or trivia night on space facts and history
- A movie night or book club on space-themed films or books
- A star party or observation night with telescopes or binoculars
- A rocket launch or demonstration with model rockets or balloons
- A field trip or visit to a local space museum or facility
- A fundraising or donation campaign for a space-related cause or organization
You can find more ideas and resources on how to organize or join an event on the WSWA website. You can also register your event with WSWA to get recognition and support from the global network of space enthusiasts.
Conclusion
World Space Week is a great opportunity to celebrate space science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The theme for World Space Week 2023 is “Space and Entrepreneurship”, which highlights the growing role of the commercial space industry and the opportunities for space innovation and development. You can join or organize an event in your area or online to learn more about space and entrepreneurship, and to inspire yourself and others to pursue your dreams and passions in space.
