SPACE.com -- World Space Week Launches at the United Nations

SPACE.com Chairman and CEO Lou Dobbs Kicks Off Space Week at the U.N.


	World Space Week Launches at the United Nations By Robert Pearlman Special to SPACE.com posted: 09:16 am ET 06 October 2000

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The first World Space Week kicked off Wednesday, October 4, 2000, with celebrations in over 20 nations worldwide. The annual event, established by the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly, recognizes the "contribution space science and technology can make to the betterment of the human condition."

To mark the Weeks beginning, space explorers, diplomats, television personalities and school children gathered at U.N. Headquarters in New York.

"How apt that at the start of this new millennium, we also launch this new annual event," wrote U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in a message delivered to attendees by Kensaku Hogen, under secretary-general for communications and public information.

2001: A Space Odyssey author Arthur C. Clarke addresses the United Nations through a video from Sri Lanka.

"World Space Week underlines the power of technology and the need to ensure that it is used peacefully for the benefit of all humanity," stated Annan.

In a videotaped address Arthur C. Clarke, author of 2001: A Space Odyssey, heralded the importance of communication satellites, missile defense technology and military reconnaissance satellites to the creation of a safe global village. Clarke also identified the search for extraterrestrial intelligence as the single most important goal of space exploration.

"We may discover that our place in the universe is humble indeed; we should not shrink from that knowledge if it turns out that we are far nearer the apes than the angels," read Clarke from his epilogue to First On The Moon. "We may yet have a splendid and inspiring role to play, on a stage wider and more marvelous than ever dreamed of by any poet or dramatist of the past. For it may be that the old astrologers had the truth exactly reversed when they believed that the stars controlled the destinies of men. The time may come when men control the destinies of stars."

A panel of space explorers (from left to right): ESA astronaut Jean Francois Clervoy, Master of Ceremonies Lou Dobbs, NASA astronaut Franklin Chang-Diaz and cosmonauts Rakesh Sharma (India) and Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu (Romania).

Strengthening Clarkes message was a panel of some of the first humans to grasp for the stars.

Led by Master of Ceremonies Lou Dobbs, chief executive officer of SPACE.com, cosmonauts Rakesh Sharma from India and Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu from Romania, along with astronauts Franklin Chang-Diaz and Jean Francois Clervoy, all conveyed the wonder of spaceflight.

As the only native of India -- one in over 1 billion people -- to fly in space, Sharma expressed the privilege he felt being chosen, even if he was launched on another countrys rocket. The flight provided for him "confirmation that we are all connected."

The international connectivity of spaceflight was demonstrated on the third day of Sharmas mission when he developed a muscular spasm in his back. The cosmonaut was treated with ointments developed in China. The doctor administering the remedy was a crew member on Russia's Mir space station.

"Here was an Indian, being treated by a Russian, using Chinese medicine, while all were flying over Italy," reflected Sharma.

Astronaut Thomas Stafford and cosmonaut Alexei Leonov driving a simulated lunar rover participate in World Space Week celebrations in Rio.

In addition to telling their own stories, the four explorers answered questions from the audience. Questions ranged from the quality of space food to how to prepare mentally for spaceflight.

To the latter, Franklin Chang-Diaz offered the following advice, "Empty your mind of all prejudices. The downside of the glamorization of space is that it will fall short of your expectations."

Also addressing attendees were Guo Baozhu, vice administrator of the China National Space Administration and Martin Barber from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The final speaker was also the most anticipated by the primarily student-filled audience. Bill Nye "the Science Guy," joined by Franklin Chang-Diaz, addressed the question "Should the search for life be the primary goal of space exploration in the 21st century?"

Said Nye of the discovery of extraterrestrial life, "That would change everything!"

World Space Week continues through October 10, with celebrations throughout the world. Among the events scheduled are a youth gathering in Australia and a meeting of world space leaders in Rio at the International Aeronautical Congress.