World Space Week 2025: From Earth to Living in Space

World Space Week (WSW) is the largest annual space event and will be celebrated from October 4 to 10, 2025, in more than 90 countries worldwide. It is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition.

On December 6, 1999, the UN General Assembly declared World Space Week as an annual event, choosing dates that honor two milestones in space history: the launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957 — humanity’s first step into orbit — and the signing of the Outer Space Treaty on October 10, 1967, which established space as a domain for peaceful cooperation.

Each year, World Space Week adopts a theme reflecting current trends and challenges in exploration. In 2023, “Space and Entrepreneurship” highlighted the growing New Space sector, while 2024’s “Space and Climate Change” emphasized the role of satellites in addressing environmental issues. This year’s theme, “Living in Space,” looks ahead to a future where humans will not only visit space but also build sustainable communities beyond Earth.

The scale of WSW is substantial — over 16,000 events bring together schools, universities, space agencies, and industries around the world. Activities range from educational workshops and lectures to exhibitions, hackathons, and stargazing nights, providing opportunities for people of all ages to engage with the possibilities of space. These events serve a focused purpose: educating communities about the benefits they receive from space, from GPS navigation to weather forecasting; encouraging the use of space for sustainable economic development; demonstrating public support for space programs; and inspiring young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Through this coordinated global effort, World Space Week fosters international cooperation in space outreach and education, connecting diverse communities through shared curiosity about our place in the cosmos.

World Space Week 2025 theme “Living in Space” is a call to envision humanity’s presence beyond our planet — a step toward a sustainable inter-planetary future.