World Space Week 2008

In was on 4th October, 1957 the first  man made Earth satellite, Sputnik was launched into space, heralding the  beginning of the Space Age. This went on to the final landing of the Humans on the natural satellite the moon in 1969. Around ten years after the launching of Sputnik, on 10th October, 1967 the Outer Space Treaty was signed. As such, the United Nations General Assembly in December 1999, decided to observe the dates from 4th to 10th October as World Space Week to mark the anniversary of two milestones in the human exploration and use of outer space.

As per the UNOOSA the Outer Space Treaty provides the basic framework on international space law, including the following principles:

• The exploration and use of outer space shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries and shall be the province of all mankind;
• Outer space shall be free for exploration and use by all States;
• Outer space is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means;
• States shall not place nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in orbit or on celestial bodies or station them in outer space in any other manner;
• The Moon and other celestial bodies shall be used exclusively for peaceful purposes;
• astronauts shall be regarded as the envoys of mankind;
• States shall be responsible for national space activities whether carried out by governmental or non-governmental activities;
• States shall be liable for damage caused by their space objects; and
• States shall avoid harmful contamination of space and celestial bodies.

98 States have ratified, and an additional 27 have
signed the Outer Space Treaty (as of 1 January 2008)

Astronomy Club, Ahmedabad has observed World Space Week for several years and would also be observing this again this year between 4th to 10th October, 2008. he theme for  orld Space Week 2008 is "Exploring the Universe". A fitting theme since the Indian Moon Mission is round the corner. This has cause a lot of excitement in the Indian Youth.

Since the next year is being celebrated as Year of Astronomy 2009, the theme for  World Space Week in that year would be "Space for Education."

Details on the events finalized for the World Space Week would be put up on this page shortly.

You can download this pdf file also for your reference.
http://www.unoosa.org/pdf/publications/STSPACE11E.pdf

United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs link
www.unoosa.org/oosa/wsw/index.html

World Space Week Organization link
http://www.worldspaceweek.org/

Space Exploration Technologies Corporation Link
http://www.spacex.com/

NASA Space Week Link
http://history.nasa.gov/spaceweek.html

Outer Space Treaty
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/outerspt.html