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World Space Week 2006 Report
World Space Week 2006 was celebrated across the United States.
Nationwide
- Teachers used space in the classroom during World Space Week to excite students about math, science, language arts, and other subjects. Special activities featuring a book by science fiction author Robert Heinlein were provided to science and language arts teachers in both English and Spanish.
- Space Explorers held a nationwide World Space Week essay contest. Students
explain why they think space exploration is important and why we celebrate World Space Week.
- The Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, Woman's International League for Peace and Freedom, Citizens for Peace in Space and related groups held events during World Space Week to promote the non-militarization of space. These events, which took place in 16 states and the District of Columbia, included lobbying, meetings, protests, vigils, showing of space videos, and literature distribution.
Colorado
- The University of Colorado-Boulder's Fiske Planetarium celebrated World Space Week on October 5. Astronomy and planet sciences grad student Matt
Benjamin presented a "Guide to Colorado Skies" with a special emphasis on this year's World Space Week. Mr. Benjamin discussed scientific breakthroughs on an international level.
Florida
- Nigerian student Stella Felix flew onboard a Zero-G airplane from the NASA Kennedy Space Center on September 23. The event received extensive global media coverage, as Stella was the first student to fly in weightlessness as part of the World Space Week Youth Inspiration Project of World Space Week
Association. Her flight was sponsored by TerreStar Networks. WSWA plans to fly students from many countries on a weightless flight during World
Space Week 2007. Click here for pictures and more information.
North Carolina
- For World Space Week, North Carolina A&T State University held its Winter Space Science Institute for Faculty/Teacher-Student Teams. The
two-day institute had the objectives of celebrating World Space Week, addressing several competencies of the National and the State Science Content Standard, addressing the No Child Left Behind Act, and
adding new teaching and learning technologies for science. The event introduced an experimental and data analysis platform that is used to measure physical quantities such as kinematics and
thermodynamics. Participants received NASA educational packages.
Pennsylvania
- The Franklin Institute held its annual World Space Week celebration September 30 through October 6. After extensive renovations, the Bloom
Observatory re-opened on September 30th. The festivities blasted off with Mars Rovers Principal Investigator and author of "Roving Mars", Steve Squyres. On October 1, visitors toured a real NASA Lunar
Lander Module, observed the sun and solar energy with Chief Astronomer Derrick Pitts, visited with members of local astronomy clubs, and even built their own alka-seltzer rockets. Steve Squyres uncovered
the mysteries of the Red Planet during a presentation presented by Lockheed Martin. Greg Olsen, one of the world's first paid space travelers, was on hand to provide a fascinating presentation about his very
expensive vacation to the International Space Station. Visitors also saw live a science demonstrations, Space Boot Camp and Life in Space. The celebration carried on with the launch of the Galactic
Adventure Experience school trip package on October 2. Throughout the week, students met one-on-one with Astronomer Derrick Pitts, took an astronomy scavenger hunt, and were among the first to visit the newly
refurbished rooftop observatory for some sun watching. Students also took part in The Life and Death of a Star workshop, which catapulted them "into space!"
Texas
- The Houston Parks and Recreation Department celebrated World Space Week on October 5, noting the historic connection between a NASA facility that later
became the Department's headquarters building. During the celebration, the history of the Gragg Building was honored and plans for the renovation of the 50-year-old building were announced.
- World Space Week 2006 heralded the 10th year of participation for the Museum of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Our week's activities included special
planetarium shows in our recently renovated Moody Planetarium for the TTU's College of Education pre-service teachers, special presentations of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" laser show,
and a special version of our monthly astronomy program "What's Up?" This monthly program provides a brief introduction to the night-time sky. For World Space Week 2006, we held the entire
"What's Up?" program outside. Activities included an International Space Station demonstration, highlighting its distance from Earth, speed of orbit, how it was launched, and everyday
items that developed out of space science used on the space station. Other activities during the "What's Up?" program for World Space Week included safe solar views of the setting sun, and
telescope views of the 1st quarter moon. The week finished off with World Space Week Family Day on Saturday October 7. The day began with a family workshop from 12noon-1pm, emphasizing the wonder of our
moon, the solar system, and constellations. Participants simulated a scale model of the solar system on the sidewalk, simulated the phases of the moon on a stick, and built a star finder. The day
continued with fun astronomy crafts. Space-y crafts included "paper plate orbiters," "glitter galaxies" and "astronaut paper dolls". Cosmic games included "lunar
lander target practice." Telescope demonstrations were provided by members of the South Plains Astronomy Club (SPAC), and our West Texas Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Ambassador Tom
Heisey. Delicious refreshments made the day complete. We had over 434 participants for the entire week.
Washington, DC
- US space leaders celebrated World Space Week at a special reception held at the Cosmos Club on October 25. NASA Associate Administrator Rex Geveden and White House OSTP Assistant Director for Space and Aeronautics Robie Samanta Roy spoke. Courtney Stadd was honored for his two years' service as Chair of World Space Week Association. This gala event was sponsored by the U.S. GPS Industry Council. Click here for photos.
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