World Space Week 2023: Celebrate the cosmos with kids, dates, movies and more!

published by: Nibandh Vinod

Last update: October 4, 2023, 06:05 IST

The theme of World Space Week 2023 is ‘Space and Entrepreneurship’. (Image: Shutterstock)

World Space Week is a global celebration of space exploration and science. Learn the theme, history, meaning, and activities for kids, plus 10 inspirational quotes and the best space movies and TV shows to watch.

World Space Week is celebrated annually from October 4 to 10 and is the largest space-themed event in the world. This international celebration highlights the fundamental role that space science and technology plays in improving the well-being of humanity. Throughout the week, space agencies, corporations, educational institutions, planetariums, museums and astronomy enthusiasts carry out numerous space-related activities. These activities aim to educate both students and the general public, making them understand the contributions of space exploration to our society.

World Space Week 2023 Theme

The theme of World Space Week 2023 is “Space and Entrepreneurship”, which aims to spark debate and raise awareness about the growing commercial space sector and its influence on the progress of space science and technology.

History of World Space Week

The World Space Week Association (WSWA) traces its roots back to 1980, when it began organizing Space Week, a celebration in honor of the first moon landing, held annually from July 16 to 24. The inaugural celebration took place in Houston and was organized by Ernie Hillje, Troy Welch, David Koch and Dennis Stone. In 1981, they established Spaceweek National Headquarters to extend this celebration to the entire United States.

Over the years, Space Week gained momentum and spread to more than 15 nations in 1999. The same year, the United Nations General Assembly designated World Space Week to be celebrated annually from October 4 to 10. . World Space Week and played a key role in organizing the first global celebration in 2000.

Importance of World Space Week

World Space Week improves people’s understanding of space and provides a platform for people around the world to expand their knowledge of the benefits of space exploration. It includes how space can be connected for sustainable economic development. Various events and activities help us understand the important role that space plays in our lives.

World Space Week: activities for children

Build a rotating solar system
Create and play a space-themed board game.
Make a homemade space vehicle
Make a model of the solar system.
Launch a bottle rocket
make planets with clay

How to celebrate

Use Google Earth and explore seven wonders of the world and historic launch sites.
Gather your friends and family for a space-themed movie marathon.
Invite some friends and family to train like an astronaut.
Spend a couple of hours doing various physical activities such as yoga, running, walking, lifting weights, or swimming.
Host a stargazing party and learn to identify constellations, spot planets, and marvel at the beauty of the night sky. You can make it even more special by using telescopes or binoculars.

World Space Week 2023: 10 quotes

“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” – Nicholas Tesla

“Time and space are not conditions of existence, but time and space are a model for thinking.” – Albert Einstein

“I am among those who think that science has great beauty.” – Marie Curie

“When you look at the stars and the galaxy, you feel that you are not from a particular piece of land, but from the solar system.” – Kalpana Chawla

“The more people are exposed to science, the further we get away from superstition.” – Rakesh Sharma

“Time travel was once thought to be pure science fiction, but Einstein’s theory of general relativity allows for the possibility that we could warp space-time so much that one could go out in a rocket and come back before leaving.” – Stephen Hawking

“Science is a beautiful gift to humanity, we must not distort it.” – APJ Abdul Kalam

“We are all connected; To each other, biologically. To the earth, chemically. To the rest of the universe in an atomic way.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson

“We can’t teach people anything; we can only help them discover it within themselves.” – Galileo Galilei

“Endowed with his five senses, man explores the universe that surrounds him and calls adventure Science.” – Edwin Powell-Hubble