World Space Week, October 4-10

Space and Entrepreneurship (2023)

 

Entrepreneurship is the ability and readiness to develop, organize, manage and run a business enterprise, together with any attendant risks and uncertainties, in order to make a profit. One of the best examples of entrepreneurship is the starting of a new ‘start-up’ enterprise.

The theme for World Space Week 2023, ‘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.”

Dawn of the Space Age

October 4, 1957 is a red-letter day in human history.  It marked the dawn of the Space Age with the launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus opening the way for space exploration.  Mostly the stuff of science fiction till then, and conceived by Newton in his celebrated Principia Mathematica as far back as 1687, this achievement was possible through rapid advances in multi-stage rocket technology that made it possible to place instrument bearing satellites in earth orbit initially, and humans subsequently.  Another icon of science fiction, the communication satellite, predicted by science communicator Arthur C Clarke in 1945, was also achieved soon after.  The first human lunar landing on 20 July 1969 was the next big historic milestone of the Space Age.

Another important day in the history of the Space Age is October 10, 1967, when the Treaty on “Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies”, was signed.

World Space Week History

The World Space Week Association (WSWA) began in 1980 as the coordinating agency of “Spaceweek,” a celebration of the first Moon landing, during July 16-24 each year.  It was in 1999 that the United Nations General Assembly declared “World Space Week” to be held every year from 4 to 10 October.   WSWA offered to the UN to serve as global coordinator of World Space Week, and helped organize the first such celebration in 2000.  This has continued since then, expanding both in scope and national participation.

As an international non-government, nonprofit organization, the WSWA is a permanent observer on the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. It is supported by voluntary contributions worldwide from numerous sponsors. It is also one of the world’s oldest space advocacy groups.

The largest space event on Earth, the UN-declared World Space Week is essentially an international celebration of the contribution of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition. World Space Week consists of a myriad of space related events held by space agencies, aerospace companies, schools, planetariums, museums, and astronomy clubs in a common timeframe to achieve greater student participation and public impact.

Every year, WSWA selects a theme to highlight an aspect of space science/technology with broad appeal to humanity. This theme provides guidance to World Space Week participants on the content of their programs. Event holders are encouraged to address the current year’s theme in their events and publicity activities.

The theme for the inaugural year 2000 was “Launching the Space Millenium” as showcased in the poster below. Since then, the practice has continued unbroken.

Nearly 30 nations participated in World Space Week 2000, which was launched at the UN Headquarters on 4 October. Government agencies, industry, schools, science museums, and other institutions in participating nations held a wide variety of space science/technology related events.

UN and Space

In 1999, the UN General Assembly proclaimed World Space Week by resolution 54/68. The main aim is to celebrate the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.

The celebration of World Space Week is under the guidance of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) based in Vienna, Austria.

Today, the UNOOSA is the UN office responsible for promoting international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space. It serves as the secretariat for the General Assembly’s only committee dealing exclusively with international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, COPUOS.

The UN has been involved in space activities ever since the beginning of the Space Age, and has been committed to space being used for peaceful purposes only. The UN family strives continuously to utilize the unique benefits of outer space for the betterment of all humankind. Recognizing the common interest of humankind in outer space and seeking to answer questions on how outer space can help benefit the peoples of Earth, the General Assembly adopted its first resolution related to outer space, resolution 1348 (XIII) entitled “Question of the Peaceful Use of Outer Space”.

Space science and technology, and their applications, are increasingly being used to support a wide range of UN activities. They contribute to the work of the UN, including the implementation of recommendations of major world conferences and those of the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III). As a consequence, coordination, cooperation and synergy have become indispensable for those activities to be effectively carried out by the UN system. 

 

Space Week Themes

By way of illustration, the Space Week themes for the years 2001 (Inspiration from Space), 2007 (50 Years in Space), 2011 (50 Years of Human Space Flight), and 2021 (Women in Space) are shown in the posters displayed below:

Here is the complete list of themes included so far:

2022 – Space and Sustainability
2021 – Women in Space
2020 – Satellites Improve Life
2019 – The Moon:  Gateway to the Stars
2018 – Space Unites the World
2017 – Exploring New Worlds In Space
2016 – Remote Sensing – Enabling our Future
2015 – Discovery
2014 – Space: Guiding Your Way
2013 – Exploring Mars – Discovering Earth
2012 – Space for Human Safety and Security
2011 – 50 Years of Human Spaceflight
2010 – Mysteries of the Cosmos
2009 – Space for Education
2008 – Exploring the Universe
2007 – 50 Years in Space
2006 – Space for Saving Lives
2005 – Discovery and Imagination
2004 – Space for Sustainable Development
2003 – Space: Horizon Beyond Earth
2002 – Space and Daily Life
2001 – Inspiration from Space
2000 – Launching the Space Millennium

Space Week Aims

As an international celebration of science and technology and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition, the Space Week aims to:

· Provide unique leverage in space outreach and education

· Educate people around the world about the benefits that they receive from space

· Encourage greater use of space for sustainable economic development

· Demonstrate public support for space programs

· Excite young people about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

· Foster international cooperation in space outreach and education

· To strengthen the link between space and society through public education, participation, and dialogue on the future of space activity using World Space Week as a focus.

Theme for 2023

As indicated earlier, the theme for the current year is “Space and Entrepreneurship”.  “Our poster for 2023 symbolizes the converging path of space exploration and entrepreneurship,” said Maruska Strah, WSWA Executive Director. “From innovative satellite communication services to promising startups that push the frontiers of space technology, entrepreneurial initiatives are constantly shaping the future of space.”

The two visuals put out by WSWA and reproduced below best describe the concept of Space Entrepreneurship and some indicative opportunities available in the field. These are examined and expanded further in the following section:

Space Entrepreneurship

In the early decades, space exploration was the exclusive preserve of the super powers as a state enterprise.  Private enterprise was confined to the design and development of subsystems required to put together the huge multi-stage launch vehicles and sophisticated satellites and spacecraft needed for space exploration.  With the passage of time, rapid advancements in aerospace technology, coupled with revolutionary developments in related technologies, such as microelectronics, have brought down the costs of development and deployment to such a degree that private enterprise and entrepreneurship became both viable and attractive. For example, the cost of placing a spacecraft in near earth orbit has nosedived from approximately US$ 100,000/kg in 1980 to as low as US$ 1,000/kg today. Part of the reason for this is the ability to place multiple payloads of different sizes and weights in different earth orbits using the same launch vehicle. 

ISRO is one of the forerunners of the multiple launch technique. In Feb 2017, it achieved the incredible milestone of placing as many as 104 different satellites for different customers in different orbits with the same PSLV C37 launch vehicle at highly affordable costs.  This record was bettered recently by Elon Musk’s SpaceX when this private sector company in USA raised the number to 147!   Incidentally, SpaceX has also demonstrated the full potential of reusable rockets.

The dwindling cost of space technology has resulted in a surge of space entrepreneurship worldwide in recent years, as highlighted in this year’s space week theme. The following illustrative graphic focuses on a sample of ten space tech start-ups in different parts of the world this year:

One of these ten startups on focus is Chennai (India) based GalaxEye, started in 2020, which proudly proclaims: “We are building the world’s first multi sensor imaging satellite for earth observation purposes to gather unique insights with our proprietary mission called Drishti to provide intuitive all-time all-weather information over any area of interest across the globe.”

Space Week Activities

The choice of activities open to institutions and individuals as part of the theme for this year is extensive.  Here are a few indicative examples:

·       Promotion of Entrepreneurship

Discussions, seminars, conferences, etc., designed to induce responsive individuals and institutions to take up space science and technology-based entrepreneurship as outlined earlier would serve the primary purpose of this year’s theme.

·       Building model satellite/spacecraft

You can now build your own unique combination of satellites, using free print-it-yourself paper cutout satellite models available online*. Makes for a fun day of real hands-on rocket science and space engineering!

[*For example:

https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/build-a-spacecraft/en/

https://sci.esa.int/web/education/-/35013-cut-out-build]

·      Organizing visits to local or any nearby Science Centre and Space Exhibits

This should be possible in large towns and cities, such as Bangalore. Ask your science centre, museum of natural history, aerospace museum or any other technically oriented Centre for Education for a space related talk or a guided tour through the space exhibits.

·   Inviting rocket clubs to build and launch their own rockets during World Space Week.

Make a contest by getting donors to provide prizes.

·      Organize Spin-offs events.

Discuss spin-offs from space to Earth to educate the public about how space does help in everyday life.

·       Organize Seminars and Conferences

Organize a conference, a summit, symposium or seminar during the week of October 4-10. Invite special guests to speak, invite delegates, arrange a venue, etc. 

·      Organize Lectures

Invite special guests or subject matter specialists to lecture on topics of interest about space Discoveries, what space does for us in everyday life and other topics.

·       Hold Educational Events

Open days in educational and research institutions to have demonstrations and hands on science experiments for students can be very supportive. Have special guests visit the institutions.

·       Invite Industry Experts

Have industry experts go to schools and speak to students about their work in the space industry with demonstrations, experiments and real-world applications of how science and mathematics are necessary.

·       Star Parties

If clear dark night sky opportunities exist it would be an excellent idea to organize star parties with portable telescopes and open them up to the public.

·       Planetarium Shows

At the local planetariums have a party, lecture or event and ask the management to reduce rates or open up to the public for free that week.

Other Examples of World Space Week Events

Here is a long (partial) list of events/programs suggested by WSWA that serve the basic purpose of any World Space Week:

·        Air show with space exhibits

·        Articles about space or Space week in publications

·        Award ceremony for students with best space projects

·        Celebrity, Astronaut, or Cosmonaut appearance

·        Employees give space talks to community organizations

·        Exhibit of space-related art, books or magazines, hardware, maps,  moon rocks or meteorites, photographs, stamps, space memorabilia, or student projects

·        Farmers learning how to use satellite data

·        Festival with space exhibits and activities

·        Films about space

·        Ground testing of space hardware

·        Internet chats with space experts or students in other countries

·        Lectures about space

·        Model rocket launch by students and adults

·        Planetarium with special shows and special events

·        Public meetings to discuss space science/technology spin-offs

·        Press conference introducing space-related product or service

·        Satellite linkage of World Space Week events

·        School activities to excite children about math and science

·        Share your vision for space on your blog* or on this web site

·        Teacher training workshop on space

·        Technical conference and/or industrial exposition on space

·        Telescope viewing of the stars and planets

·        Write letters to newspapers about space

·        Youth “space camp”

[*This blog article is a modest and belated attempt towards this end]

Afterword

The idea for writing this article was inspired by a meeting with Mr A S Abhishek, Founder Secretary of the Gravity Science Foundation, Chamarajanagar, Karnataka, when we discussed how greater awareness could be promoted for this year’s theme of the World Space Week through a radio programme presentation. I am indebted to him for his initiative and for developing such awareness in me.