The World Space Week-2005 (WSW-2005) is scheduled to be held at Karachi from November 19 to 27, 2005 under the aegis of Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco). This was announced by chairman Suparco Raza Hussain while speaking at a press conference here on Saturday.
Raza Hussain said that the activities and events being organised during this week are aimed at enhancing the awareness of people in general and the younger generation in particular, of benefits of space science and space technology and their impact on their lives.
The activities and events during the weeklong programme would include panel discussions, a walk, a seminar, sky simulation shows, sun observation, quiz and painting competitions, he added.
Giving details of the schedule of the activities and events, he said the inaugural programme of this week would be held on November 19 at HEJ Institute, Karachi University. Space talk/panel discussion, departure of mobile space education classroom for underprivileged schools in rural areas would also be organised on the same day.
Space-week Walk would be held at Sea View, Clifton on November 20 and space seminar would be held at Arts Auditorium, Karachi University on November 21.
The quiz/painting/model making competitions for school students would be held at Suparco headquarters lawn on November 22 to 23 and sun observation programme would be held at ISPA, Karachi University on November 19 to 25, 2005.
The Sky Simulation Show would be held at PIA Planetarium on November 19 to 25 and Space Fair, final competitions of quiz, painting and model making, school tableaus, food court, kid's arena would be held at Maritime Museum on November 26 to 27, 2005.
He said that the activities and events would be organised be M/S Grace Communication. Also, these events and activities are being sponsored by private companies and government organisations such as Shell Pakistan Limited, Institute of Space & Astrophysics (ISPA), University of Karachi, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Pakistan Science Foundation, HEJ Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Sindh Education Department and others.
He told the newsmen that the General Assembly of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space Affairs (UN COPUOS), on the recommendations of UNISPACE-III, adopted resolution 54/68 of December 6, 1999 declaring that the World Space Week should be celebrated internationally by all nations from October 4 to 10 each year.
He said that these dates commemorate key milestones in space : October 4, 1957 was the launch date of Sputnik-1, the first human-made Earth satellite; October 10, 1967 was the date of the entry into force of 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. However, he said that due to the WSW falling in the month of Ramazan, Space-week International Association (SIA), in consultation with Muslim countries, has decided to celebrate this week from November 19 to 27, 2005, this year and for the next four years.
The director general Suparco, Arshad H. Siraj, also spoke on this occasion and told newsmen about various activities and projects of this national agency.
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