Space

World Space Week Highlights Growing Access to Space

By UN News

For many years, launching payloads beyond Earth was limited to a handful of national space programmes. That is changing as reusable rockets, commercial launch providers, start‑ups, university teams and new national space actors contribute to a rapidly evolving sector. The shift is the focus of this year’s World Space Week theme, Rocket Revolution, which examines how new technologies, falling launch costs and a broader range of participants are transforming access to space.

World Space Week, held annually from 4 to 10 October since 1999, brings together students, scientists, educators, space professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. The theme explores how widening access offers countries opportunities to use space technology to address national priorities, support sustainable development and grow their economies.

"More countries, institutions and communities than ever before now have the opportunity to use space for science, Earth observation, communications and solutions to challenges here on Earth," said Aarti Holla‑Maini, head of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). Satellites support communications, navigation, weather forecasting, disaster response, environmental monitoring and many other services that people rely on every day.

A rapidly growing commercial space sector is creating new opportunities for businesses, researchers and entrepreneurs. Countries are eager to join a global space economy that is projected to become a trillion‑dollar industry by 2030. For nations and communities that have historically had fewer opportunities to participate in space activities, this growth is opening new pathways to build expertise, develop local space industries and benefit from the expanding space economy.

Access to space is not only about launching a rocket; it also involves having the knowledge, skills, infrastructure and opportunities to participate in the sector and to shape its future. UNOOSA works to help emerging space nations, institutions and individuals in developing countries gain access to space‑related technologies, facilities, research opportunities and capacity‑building. The agency supports initiatives such as Access to Space for All, the Global Space Law Project, Space4Women and Space4Youth.

Over the past year, UNOOSA has supported: - Hands‑on satellite development training for aspiring space engineers through the KiboCUBE Academy - Astronaut training at NASA Space Camp for young people selected through the Space4Youth competition - Satellite launch and deployment opportunities through programmes such as KiboCUBE, the Payload Hosting Initiative and EXOpod - Targeted space law advisory missions to countries developing their national space laws and policies

The expanding access to space also raises questions about governance. The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), established in 1959, is the UN body charged with promoting international cooperation in the exploration and peaceful use of outer space. COPUOS addresses issues such as coordination of lunar activities, space traffic, the use of nuclear power sources in space, space debris and the use of space resources. In 2025, the committee established an Expert Group on Space Situational Awareness to strengthen international cooperation and information‑sharing as activity in orbit increases. Its Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation is also examining how countries can better coordinate the growing number of activities on and around the Moon.

With more actors, technology and activity in orbit and beyond, the questions of access and international cooperation highlighted by this year’s World Space Week are likely to become even more important.

More than 50,000 events are planned in over 100 countries for this year’s World Space Week. Participation does not require a trip to space; as access to space changes, so do the ways people can engage with the space community.