During World Space Week, a series of activities will be organized across UNIVERSEH to engage students, staff, schools and the wider community in exploring this year’s theme, Rocket Revolutions.
The programme will combine educational, practical, cultural, and social experiences, including sessions, hands-on workshops, expert talks and discussions, opportunities to discover UNIVERSEH courses and initiatives, space-themed gaming activities, and film screenings with accompanying discussions.
What is the World Space Week?
The General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed in 1999 the World Space Week; a week to celebrate the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition.
World Space Week is now the largest annual space event in the world. It helps build up the workforce of tomorrow by inspiring students; demonstrates visible public support for the space programme; educates the public about space activities; and fosters international cooperation in space outreach and education.
What is UNIVERSEH’s programme?
Tuesday 6/10 · Live Streamed Sky Observations
📅 Date: Tuesday October, 6 2026
🕙 Time: 21:00 PM CET
📍 Format: Online · Join us on YouTube
Explore the night sky live from the UNamur Astronomical Observatory. Make yourself comfortable at home and embark on a journey to the heart of the Universe through a live broadcast from the UNamur Astronomical Observatory. Guided by UNamur experts, discover the wonders of the night sky: the Moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae, and even distant galaxies.
If weather conditions do not allow clear skies for observations, this event will be cancelled.
Wednesday 7/10 · Can Space Exploration Be Sustainable?
📅 Date: Wednesday October, 7 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM –12 PM CET
📍 Format: Online
As humanity looks beyond Earth towards long-term space exploration and future habitation, one question becomes increasingly important: Can space exploration be sustainable?
Can we explore space without harming the space environment or our own planet? How sustainable are today’s space technologies? Are rockets really as harmful to the environment as many people believe? What happens to launch vehicles after each mission? And as humans prepare to establish a permanent presence beyond Earth, how can we ensure that space habitats and future missions are designed responsibly?
During this online event, experts from different fields of the space sector will present the latest ideas and solutions related to space sustainability. Topics will include the circular economy in the space industry, sustainable materials and 3D printing for space habitats, and both current and emerging approaches to making space activities more sustainable.
The presentations will be followed by an interactive panel discussion, where our speakers will answer questions from the audience and discuss some of the most common misconceptions and challenges surrounding sustainable space exploration.
- 10.00: Circular Economy in Space · Rafał Sawa (POLSA & ESA NGT Programme)
- 10.20: Vernacular Engineering for Space Architecture · Marcin Kitala (AGH)
- 10.40: Panel discussion
- 11.00: Space Studies at AGH: From Rockets to Space Medicine · Mateusz Olek (AGH)
- 11.10: The university-led rocketry and propulsion education. How and where to do the test? The need of rocket engineers in the near future · Olle Persson (LTU, Center of Excellence)
- 11.20: Mobilities · Gladys Espejo (HHU)
- 11.25: UNIVERSEH Academy · Lars Lienen (HHU)
- 11.30: UNIVERSEH’s new Mentoring Programme · Sterenn Le-Calvez (Comue)
- 11.35: Space Health & Engineering Masters · Vsevolod Peysakhovich (Comue)
- 11.40: Transversal Space Programme · Yulia Dimbernat (Comue)
- 11.45: SATCOM Masters · Pascal Maussion (Comue)
- 11.50: Space Sustainability Masters · Miguel Olivares Mendez (uni.lu)
- 11.55: Q&A
We warmly encourage participants to submit their questions in advance or ask them live during the event. There are no silly questions – curiosity drives innovation!
You can submit your questions here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/0tRW7LHhSk
Thrusday 15/10 · LiftOff 2026
📅 Date: Thursday October, 15 2026
🕙 Time: 9:00 AM –12 PM CET
📍 Format: Hybrid (Kiruna Campus and Online)
LiftOff is a job fair organized by students, for students and is intended to close the gap between their education and the space industry they will one day be a part of.
By inviting different companies tied to the space industry LiftOff allows students and companies to connect and spark interest.
LiftOff 2026 will take place at Space Campus Kiruna as well as the Swedish Institute of Space Physics/IRF in Kiruna the 15-16th of October.
Thanks to a hybrid format, students from around the Alliance can join the job faire online on Thursday 15/10.
Activities at partner universities
From rocket workshops and movie screenings to game nights, a range of activities are organised across UNIVERSEH.
Join us at our partner universities for more local events and activities:
Click here for more information about the World Space Week