Living in Space: SUPARCO gears up for World Space Week 2025

Pakistan’s national space agency, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, has announced nationwide celebrations for World Space Week (WSW) 2025, the world’s largest annual space event, to be observed from October 4 to 10 across Pakistan and globally.

According to a spokesperson, this year’s theme, “Life in Space,” highlights how humanity is preparing to live and work beyond Earth and how space science and technology are shaping the future.

Established by the United Nations in 1999, World Space Week is held annually to commemorate two landmark events: the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik-1, on October 4, 1957, and the signing of the Outer Space Treaty on October 10, 1967.

As Pakistan’s national coordinator of World Space Week since 2005, SUPARCO has consistently ranked among the leading contributors worldwide. In 2024, Pakistan topped the global chart by organising over 6,000 activities, making it the most active country in WSW celebrations.

For 2025, SUPARCO has planned a diverse lineup of programmes to inspire students and the public about the wonders of space science.

These include teacher training workshops on building and launching water rockets in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Gilgit; Space Camp 2025, featuring interactive workshops and competitions to design, build, and launch model satellites; space van visits to schools in remote areas; educational tours of SUPARCO facilities nationwide; and a series of national-level competitions such as Best Space School, the Space Ambassador Contest for science and astronomy societies, and multiple public contests to foster creativity and scientific thinking.

The initiative aims to inspire the younger generation to pursue careers in space science, satellite technology, remote sensing, astronomy, and related fields, while also underscoring the vital role of space research in improving life on Earth.