World Space Week 2022: Why is it celebrated? History, theme and significance

World Space Week 2022: World Space Week is observed every year from October 4 to 10 to celebrate science and technology's contributions to the betterment of the human condition. The week commemorates the launch of first human-made Earth satellite- Sputnik-1 (October 4, 1957) & signing a treaty for peaceful use of Space (October 10, 1967).

The theme of World Space Week 2022 is “Space and Sustainability”.

The theme is inspired by how sustainability in space relates to how humanity uses space, most pressingly, the orbital area surrounding Earth-itself a finite resource, according to the official website of World Space Week- https://www.worldspaceweek.org/ 

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Tuesday morning tweeted about the commencement of World Space Week.

ISRO tweeted, “World Space Week is celebrated every Oct 4-10 commemorating the launch of Sputnik-1 (Oct 4, 1957) & signing a treaty for peaceful use of Space (Oct 10, 1967). “Space and Sustainability” is the theme of this year’s celebrations.”

World Space Week is celebrated every Oct 4-10 commemorating the launch of Sputnik-1 (Oct 4, 1957) & signing a treaty for peaceful use of Space (Oct 10, 1967). “Space and Sustainability” is the theme of this year’s celebrations.

— ISRO (@isro) October 4, 2022

World Space Week coordinated by the United Nations with the support of the World Space Week Association (WSWA) has a goal to provide unique leverage in space outreach and education.

Educating people around the world about the benefits they receive from space; encouraging greater use of space for sustainable economic development; demonstrating public support for space programs; fostering international cooperation in space outreach and education, encouraging young people about science, technology, engineering, and math are the few goals of World Space Week celebration.

Competitions, lectures and talk shows are arranged for the benefit of school, college and general public every year to serve the purpose.  

In 2021, more than 6,000 events were organized in over 96 countries under the theme “Women in Space”. More than 6,418 events were organized.