World Space Week
Written by Ashling Sugarman, HS Intern Coordinator, UN Women USA LA
“After decades of efforts, we are still far from fully capitalizing on the talent, skills and ideas of women and girls in one of the most forward-looking sectors that sits at the frontier of human capabilities and imagination.”
- Simonetta Di Pippo, Director, United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs
Today commences the start of the largest annual space event in the world, known as World Space Week, which stretches from October 4th to 10th. This event is coordinated by the United Nations and the World Space Week Association (WSWA) to celebrate the development of science and technology and the once-unimaginable achievements of space pioneers from around the world, while also recognizing the importance of and advocating for sustainable growth and the betterment of the human condition. Throughout World Space Week, outreach and educational events are held at aerospace companies, schools, astronomy clubs, and more — all of which are bound by a common core of a passion for space and the advancement of human life.
These core truths were the catalyst behind the General Assembly’s declaration on December 6, 1999, in which World Space Week was brought to life, as provided in the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. In this proclamation, the General Assembly noted the historical importance of the bookends of the event, as October 4, 1957 was the launch date of the first satellite, Sputnik 1, and October 10, 1967 was the date of ratification of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. With such action, the United Nations continued to recognize “that outer space added a new dimension to humanity’s existence”, and in a more direct effect, it created a systematic way to increase space education and program exposure to the general public.
World Space Week aims to educate people around the world about benefits from space, encourage greater use of space for sustainable economic development, demonstrate public support for space programs, inspire younger generations, and foster international cooperation in space advocacy and education.
To further the influence of World Space Week, the WSWA Board of Directors and the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs select a theme each year. This practice has helped streamline the efforts and unite participants from around the world. In a similar thread, it highlights an international call-to-action base that invites further discussion, research, and action.
Looking at the international field in recent years, it goes without saying that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a drastic and severe impact on both men and women. However, the effects on women were to a larger margin, with consequences that went far beyond the three-speared trident of higher unemployment rates — coupled with a slower re-entry into employment — sharp increases in gender-based violence, and an unmanageable increase in unpaid care work. As of the current year, the status of women’s rights and gender parity throughout the world revealed an onerous truth; formerly evaluated at 100 years, achieving global gender equality has now been projected to take another thirty-six years, resulting in an additional generation of women who must wait for gender equality. Just as chilling, it will take 267.6 years to achieve gender parity in the economy, and 145.5 years to close the gender gap in politics. These metrics, as published by the World Economic Forum (WEForum), reflect the stagnant to marginal growth of gender equality throughout numerous sectors of everyday life.
“The pandemic has fundamentally impacted gender equality in both the workplace and the home, rolling back years of progress. If we want a dynamic future economy, it is vital for women to be represented in the jobs of tomorrow. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to focus leadership attention, commit to firm targets and mobilize resources. This is the moment to embed gender parity by design into the recovery.”
Although presented as mere ripples in the paragraphs above, these statistics have had compounding repercussions, going so far as to reach space. In 2021, a timely decision was made in selecting the theme of World Space Week as “Women in Space.” Strengthened by the desire to inspire young women and girls to enter the space field, this theme broadcasted the importance of diversity in the space workforce, enlightened the public on the near-future goals of women in space exploration, and obtained record-breaking numbers of WSW attendees.
In reference to the above-presented poster, Maruška Strah, Executive Director of WSWA states: “We wanted it to be relatable. And to me, they are. And my favorite part about this poster, absolutely [my] favorite part about this poster, which I believe is what makes people not stop looking at it; if you look at their eyes, and their faces, they’re like, ‘I know I can do this…move out my way.’” This purposeful and strong demeanor, as presented in the four faces on WSWA’s 2021 poster, highlights the resiliency of those who have and continue to advocate for gender equality in the space sector. This degree of tenacity is essential, especially when taking stock of modern achievements, as it reveals the deep-rooted evidence of gender disparity within the industry. As one example, in 2019, the first all-female spacewalk was organized, yet this effort was upsettingly canceled due to a lack of smaller spacesuits for the female astronauts.
In pursuit of identifying the contributing factors to the lack of diversity throughout the space sector, it’s best to determine the present-day environment in which women and girls are faced with several discouraging roadblocks. It was found in a 2017 survey that girls will gain an interest in science at age 11, yet by 15 years old, they lose this interest due to a lack of hands-on experience, limited connection to female role models, and a daunting and discouraging workforce saturated with gender inequality. A study in 2013 spoke to the impact of gender bias on a more subconscious level, as it was conducted through vernacular means. “When elementary-school teachers described male-dominated professions, such as astronaut, using masculine rather than gender-neutral language, their female students were more likely to think that women in those roles were less successful.” The results of this study are further represented in the global statistic that only 30% of women are researchers in a science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) field.
It is critical for gender equality to exist and flourish in STEM fields, as it provides positive externalities for all. The benefits absorbed by women are similarly countless, but to speak to its vitality, the space sector tends to offer high-earning jobs, which in turn, provides women with financial freedom and a larger contribution to household income. As a testament to such expansion, the space sector has been estimated to reach a value of nearly $3 trillion in the next thirty years. Furthermore, 90% of future jobs will require STEM-related skills, so it is imperative that women are equipped with the necessary education to remain competitive in such an industry. With higher female presence in STEM fields, this can lead to more diverse problem-solving and researching teams, which are heavily supported in both public and private sectors for its ability to compound innovation, success, and financial metrics.
“It is disappointing that, in the 21st century, and in fields like the space sector, which is known for breaking boundaries, we are still not making the most of what women have to contribute.”
-Simonetta Di Pippo, International Gender Champions, Vienna, June 2017
In search of a solution, members of UN Women, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), government and non-governmental organizations, and representatives of research institutions conversed for two-and-a-half days in 2017 to discuss the groundworks of the “Space for Women” project. This project was then launched three years later, with the vision to “bring the benefits of space to humankind… [and] ensuring that those benefits reach women and girls, and that women and girls play an active and equal role in space science, technology, innovation and exploration.” With reference to the initial step in their work, the Space for Women project has taken measures to aid global governments so that they may properly implement the necessary framework that supports such a change. This can be realized in promoting policy changes and influencing social norms, stereotypes, and related internal structures. An example of such effort is evident in U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ statement on September 9, 2022, in which she referenced the Interagency Roadmap to Support Space-Related STEM Education and Workforce. This report outlines the commitments of the Space STEM Task Force in supporting the United States’ capacity to “inspire, prepare and employ a diverse and inclusive space workforce, starting with increasing awareness of the wide range of space careers, providing resources and opportunities to better prepare jobseekers for the workplace, and placing a focus on strategies to recruit, retain and advance professionals of all backgrounds in the space workforce.” Furthermore, the ways in which younger generations can be exposed to the wonders of space is best exemplified in Nickelodeon’s platform, Noggin’s Space Place. This platform will feature animated and live action videos, educational resources, and a service that connects children’s questions for astronauts in the International Space Station. To strengthen this initiative, a new coalition of space companies, including Blue Origin, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and SpaceX, will demonstrate a “replicable and scalable approach to attracting, training and creating employment opportunities particularly for people from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in STEM jobs.”
In addition to the remarkable achievements as presented above, UNOOSA’s Space for Women project has directly empowered women by creating a mentorship program. Within this platform, younger women who are interested in STEM fields can network with female role models who can provide advice, guidance, inspiration and encouragement (UNOOSA, page 58). These actions have directly addressed the key concerns and statistics as outlined above, for which women and girls forgo their dreams of a career in a STEM field due to lack of policy and mentor support.
“The initiative is so important in raising the profile of professional women within the space industry and highlighting them as role models to the emerging generations of young women, which is crucial as it waves a big red flag at them saying — yes, dream big, you can do it, it is possible, there is a place for you in the future of space exploration!”
In keeping with the objectives of WSWA’s 2021 theme of “Women in Space”, it was also utilized in raising awareness and support for NASA’s Artemis program, which will land the first woman and person of color on the Moon. The launch was originally scheduled for August 29, 2022, but due to offshore storms and technical difficulties, it was rescheduled for September 3, 2022. Unfortunately, this launch date was also canceled due to a leak in a liquid hydrogen valve in the Space Launch System. The third attempt, previously scheduled for September 27, 2022 was also scrapped due to the increasing concern of impact from Hurricane Ian in Florida, notably including the geographic location of the Kennedy Space Center. Currently, NASA predicts the next launch date to occur sometime in early to mid-November 2022.
Although the diversity and inclusion of the Artemis program is widely celebrated, some critics have questioned the necessity of such a costly and exorbitant mission. In large, the public has accused NASA of positioning the Artemis program as a “stunt” in order to prove and showcase the diversity of the astronaut team. To reject the backlash and accusatory claims, multiple NASA astronauts, both current and former, have taken voice to affirm their grounds. As stated by NASA astronaut and Artemis Team member Nicole “Duke” Mann: “Our mission is to return to the moon for sustained lunar operations as part of the Artemis mission. And I think the reality is, the Astronaut Office is incredibly diverse these days, and that includes women. And so it’s just a natural function of that diversity.” As such, it holds that including women in the upcoming Artemis mission to return to the Moon is as intentional as it could be, but not due to some theoretical requirement of having to include women. Instead, the reality conveys that these female astronauts are of the same qualifications and therefore, were chosen solely because of their hard-earned eligibility.
“By separating out the woman, it makes it so that the woman is the ‘other’ — that she’s not there because she deserves a spot on the mission, she’s there because we said we’re going to put a woman on the moon…So, while in the future we might not see headlines about women astronauts accomplishing things — rather, we’d just see coverage of astronauts doing their jobs — we’re not there yet.”
Within recent years, there has been an overwhelming call-to-action for both governmental and non-governmental organizations to take a larger effort in creating a dialogue that accurately reflects female-involvement in the space industry. In efforts to reject outdated nomenclature, NASA has updated its Style Guide to detail the preference for terms that are non-gender-specific. In essence, this translates to using “human or crewed space program”, instead of “manned space program”. Viewed by some as a trivial adjustment, its impact is widely felt and applauded. Best said by Sally Ride, the first woman in space, “You can’t be what you can’t see”, and in an article published by The Atlantic, author Marina Koren adds, “The same is true of what you can’t hear or read.”
“I couldn’t see space. For a child, it’s very important to see something. I was nine years old when I declared that I was going to be a lawyer, because I loved it, but I didn’t know that there was space law…Well, ya know, luckily I learned.”
-Maruška Strah, Executive Director, World Space Week Association
Modern changes didn’t end at revised lingo. In tandem with the effort to encourage young girls to explore and consider a career in STEM fields, Barbie has released a space exploration line and in April 2022, Barbie and the International Space System worked together to bring two Barbie astronauts into space. The importance of this initiative was best highlighted by Strah in her statement; “Today in my living room, I have space Barbies… And this is really something tangible you can see as a kid. You can touch it, you can play with it, you can say, ‘Oh she looks like me.’ It’s really important for girls to have something tangible. All these movies, songs, and books we read about or hear about really contribute to that.”
“We are reminding girls that not even gravity can hold them back.”
-Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls
In speaking to the value of the “Women in Space” theme — the numbers will speak for themselves. Last year, the World Space Week Association reached a record number of donations at $107,000, which will be used to support the growth of WSWA. Additionally, more than 6, 400 events were held in 96 countries, with 770 million social media impressions; all of which contribute to a metric of success that was recognized by distinguished entities including the National Geographic, Mattel, and the White House. Listed from first to tenth place, the countries with the highest reported number of events are as follows: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Iran, Brazil, United Kingdom, India, Romania, Croatia, and Russia.
Even when we transitioned into a new year, and notably, a new theme for WSW, the momentum in raising awareness and taking action in regard to gender parity didn’t cease. For the first time in history, the Women in Aerospace organization will be offering the Allyship Award, which will be granted to any individual (man or woman) who “actively promotes and aspires to advance a culture of inclusion for women through purposeful, positive and intentional efforts that benefit women in the aerospace community.” In a similar light, the multi award-winning CBS series, “Mission Unstoppable” was created as a mode to share the stories of female STEM professionals in efforts of breaking stereotypes, showcasing positive role models for young girls, and introducing new industries and career options.
As we remain consistent in our support for last year’s call-to-action, a new opportunity is presented in the 2022 World Space Week theme, “Space and Sustainability.” The notion of sustainability in space is commonly overlooked due to its out of sight, out of mind nature, but the considerations that are put forth are very critical in securing the safety and practicality of future space-related ventures as well as our home planet’s wellbeing. According to the UNOOSA’s Online Index of Objects Launched into Outer Space, there are 6,929 satellites that are registered with the UN and are in-orbit. With relation to orbital debris, commonly referred to as “space junk”, the Space Surveillance Network reported that more than 27,000 pieces are being tracked — as of data released in 2021. With these two statistics in mind, it is reasonable to believe that given the degree of oversight in unregistered satellites and fragments of space debris that are too small for tracking sensors, the number of materials in the orbital area surrounding Earth is reaching a highly dangerous and concerning level — if it hasn’t already. To further illustrate, NASA states that a tiny fragment of orbital debris can cause massive problems, especially when considering the speed at which the debris is maintaining in orbit. Adding in a spacecraft, or even a vital satellite such as one that supports phone connection, and the result can be catastrophic.
Apropos to above, this theme is also inclusive of the benefits gained from remote Earth observation. Data that is produced from remote sensing is extremely helpful, as it can be used in fields such as agriculture and geology, measuring climate change and pollution and by providing a cost-effective and valuable way to obtain information about locations that are too difficult or dangerous to directly access. Furthermore, advocates of Earth Observation (EO) have examined the tangible and applicable ways this data can be utilized for positive change. For example, EO can be a helpful resource for urban and rural planners in identifying prime locations for educational facilities by mapping the proximity to local communities, water supply, electricity access, as well as noting the precarious sites to avoid such as damaged roads, unsound buildings, and areas with ineffective sewage disposal. Another notable application of EO is in Lima, Peru, where it has become a challenge to source enough drinkable water for their population. As likely guessed, EO is an element to their solution. Even the ability to predict and alert communities that are located in a path of a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Ian in Florida, can be achieved through the utilization of EO.
As evident by the support of international entities, governing bodies, and the general public, the excitement and exigency of World Space Week is far-reaching. In recent years and throughout countless decades, the strength and perseverance of all who have advocated for gender parity have left a significant mark in history.
With profound gratitude to Maruška Strah, who not only shared her knowledge and personal narratives, but generously built a fire of inspiration that continues to render guidance. When asked for her message to young women and girls who would like to be involved in the space industry, Strah promptly responded: “Just don’t let anyone tell you ‘No’. What more is there than doing what you believe is right and what you want to achieve? There is no better advice… Do what you believe is right and what is best for you.”
To showcase your support, you can spread awareness on social media platforms by republishing World Space Week’s posts, or by posting your own with the following hashtags: #WSW2022 #worldspaceweek #worldspaceweek2022 #spaceandsustainabilitywsw. Another way to take part in the cause is by hosting your own World Space Week event or by attending a public one. To learn more about the guidelines and registration process, or to find a public event near you, please visit this link. You can also take action by becoming a coordinator, volunteer, or sponsor.
