World Space Week 2006 Report

In 2006, South Africa celebrated World Space Week with a variety of events in all nine provinces. These activities included workshops for learners and teachers, presentations, on various aspects of space science and technology, model rocketry launching competitions, exhibitions, and facility tours. Several career exhibitions were also arranged to educate youngsters about careers in space science and technology, and how to prepare for such careers. Where possible, young space scientists were used as role models.

A number of printed and electronic resources were produced for distribution to learners and to the public. Electronic versions of these resources have been made available for downloading on the South African Space Portal, a website providing easy access to information regarding space science and technology in South Africa.

Also in 2006, a new version of the popular Earth visualisation software package NASA WorldWind was released for a South African audience. This version incorporates several data layers for South Africa, such as the national 1:50,000 maps, national heritage sites, etc. The software is available on the South African Space Portal and also on CD ROMS on request from any school.

The WSW activities were funded by the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Communications. WSW 2006 was used as part of the build-up to the launch of SumbandilaSat in 2007, and consequently the WSW activities were spread over a much longer period than just one week. A number of the programmes funded under WSW are extending well into 2007.

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