Events News

World Space Week starts today

With hundreds of events being held globally, it highlights the growing private space economy.

The 24th edition of World Space Week 2023 starts today under the theme of “Space and Entrepreneurship”. The event, which runs this year from October 4 to 10, 2023 was first put in motion by the United Nations (UN) in 1999, to recognize the October 4, 1957 launch of Sputnik, the first human-made object in orbit, and the October 10, 1967 signing of the Outer Space Treaty.

Since then, the World Space Week Association (WSWA) has supported the UN in organising educational space activities and events for people in nearly 100 countries. According to the WSWA website, “‘Space and Entrepreneurship’ 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.”

The WSWA further states: “World Space Week 2023 will inspire students worldwide to study STEM 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”.

Events for World Space Week are being held across the entire planet, with at least 375 planned for 2023. WSWA also encourages groups and individuals to host their own activities, and to register with the organisation to add to their global coverage.