World Space Week

• 09 Oct 2020

Why in News

Recently, during the celebrations of World Space Week, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced that it would soon launch a dynamic, impact-based cyclone warning system.

• The warning system aims at minimising economic losses and damage to property due to the cyclones that hit Indian coasts every year.

Key Points

• World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition.
  
  • It is coordinated by the United Nations with the support of the World Space Week Association (WSWA), a non-profit organisation.
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) declared in 1999 that World Space Week would be held each year from 4^th-10^th October. These dates commemorate two events:
  
  • 4^th October 1957: Launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus opening the way for space exploration.
  • 10^th October 1967: The signing of the Outer Space Treaty (Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space including the Moon and other celestial bodies).
• Objectives:
  
  • 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 math.
  • Foster international cooperation in the space sector.
• 2020 Theme: “Satellites Improve Life.”
  
  • It shows the importance of satellites in daily life and how human lives are affected by satellites such as in communications, environmental monitoring, transportation, weather forecasting, telemedicine, science, and in many other ways.
    
    • Indian examples: EMISAT, RISAT-2B, Cartosat-3, Microsat-R and Kalamsat-V2, etc.

Source: PIB