WORLD SPACE WEEK 2004
The theme for World Space Week 2004 is:
"Space for Sustainable Development".
WANT TO STUDY SPACE SCIENCE
Find out where you can study space science after school in South Africa by viewing our list of options and contact information.
WORLD SPACE WEEK 2003
South Africa joined more than 50 countries worldwide to celebrate World Space Week from 4 - 10 October 2003. The Department of Science and
Technology (DST) and the Department of Communications (DOC) joined forces to organise
space science events for young and old around the country and to make people
more aware of the many exciting developments in space science and astronomy
in southern Africa.
In collaboration with science centres, observatories and others, space
festivals were held in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town where school
groups and other visitors could participate in rocket launches, space
science shows, popular talks, making own telescopes and visits to an
inflatable planetarium. Each of these festivals also featured exciting
space science exhibitions. Smaller events were also organised in Richard's
Bay and Mossel Bay. The Planetariums in Cape Town and Johannesburg, as well
as the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Satellite
Applicantion Centre at Hartebeesthoek, also joined in to put on extra
activities during this week. In Sutherland, home to the new Southern
African Large Telescope, an interim visitors' centre was opened during World
Space Week. A road show was also organised to take science shows to schools
in many rural areas. View the photographs!
The Southern Skies Challenge, a competition for ages 5 - 23, ran till
15 December. Young South Africans were invited to enter in various
categories with artworks, writing or models related to space sciences and
astronomy. View the winners!
The initiative was driven by the National Working Group on Space Science and
Technology, with the South African Agency for Science and Technology
Advancement (SAASTA) as a main implementation agency.
"Space provides a unique vantage-point from which to study the natural environment on the grandest possible scale and from which to to deliver communications, Earth observation and positioning / navigation services to people on the ground. Space science and technology form as much a part of the social, cultural and political landscape today as oceanic exploration did 300 years ago. The use of space for development in Africa presents opportunities that cannot be ignored, and South Africa is uniquely positioned to respond to these opportunities."
Dr Peter Martinez,
National Working Group on Space Science & Technology
For more details on World Space Week around the world, go to
http://www.worldspaceweek.org
World Space Week South Africa partners
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