Background World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10. These dates commemorate two events: October 4, 1957: Launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus opening the way for space exploration October 10, 1967: The signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activites of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. About the World Space Week By resolution 54/68 of 6 December 1999, the General Assembly proclaimed World Space Week, to celebrate the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition. The first observance of the day was in the year 2000. What are the goals of World Space Week? Provide unique leverage in space outreach and education Educate people around the world about the benefits that they receive from space Encourage greater use of space for sustainable economic development Demonstrate public support for space programs Excite young people about science, technology, engineering, and math Foster international cooperation in space outreach and education Theme for 2026 For World Space Week 2026, celebrated globally from October 4 to 10, the theme is “Rocket Revolution.” Rocket Revolution focuses on the rapid transformation of space launch. Once limited to a small number of government programs, access to space is now expanding through commercial lanch providers, reusable rockets, university teams, startups, and new national space actors. This shift is changing who can reach space, how often launches happen, and what space is used for. Source : United Nations Space research in India About ISRO Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the space agency of India. The organisation is involved in science, engineering and technology to harvest the benefits of outer space for India and the mankind. ISRO is a major constituent of the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India. The department executes the Indian Space Programme primarily through various Centres or units within ISRO. ISRO was previously the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), set up by the Government of India in 1962, as envisioned by Dr. VikramA Sarabhai. ISRO was formed on August 15, 1969 and superseded INCOSPAR with an expanded role to harness space technology. DOS was set up and ISRO was brought under DOS in 1972. The prime objective of ISRO/DOS is the development and application of space technology for various national needs. To fulfil this objective, ISRO has established major space systemsfor communication, television broadcasting and meteorological services; resources monitoring and management; space-based navigation services. ISRO has developed satellite launch vehicles, PSLV and GSLV, to place the satellites in the required orbits. Alongside its technological advancement, ISRO contributes to science and science education in the country. Various dedicated research centres and autonomous institutions for remote sensing, astronomy and astrophysics, atmospheric sciences and space sciences in general function under the aegis of Department of Space. ISRO's own Lunar and interplanetary missions along with other scientific projects encourage and promote science education, apart from providing valuable data to the scientific community which in turn enriches science. ISRO has its headquarters in Bengaluru. Its activities are spread across various centres and units. Launch Vehicles are built at VikramSarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram; Satellites are designed and developed at U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengalure; Integration and launching of satellites and launch vehicles are carried out from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota; Development of liquid stages including cryogenic stage is carried out at Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Valiamala& Bengaluru; Sensors for Communication and Remote Sensing satellites and application aspects of the space technology are taken up at Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad and Remote Sensing satellite data reception processing and dissemination is entrusted to National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad. The activities of ISRO are guided by its Chairman, who would also be the secretary of DOS and Chairman of Space commission – the apex body that formulates the policies and overseas the implementation of the Indian Space Programme. Milestone in Indian Space Exploration 2026: India’s first private orbital launch (Vikram-I) 2025: SpaDeX mission Docking of two satellites and successful power transfer 2024: Aditya-L1 enters halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L1 point 2023: Chandrayaan-3 lands on the Moon’s south pole 2019: Chandrayaan-2 launched 2017: Launched 104 satellites in 1 mission 2013: Mangalyaan, first mission to Mars 2008: Chandrayaan-1, first mission to the Moon 1984: Rakesh Sharma becomes the first Indian in space 1980: First successful satellite launch vehicle (SLV-3) 1975: Launch of Aryabhatta, India’s first satellite, On 19 April 1975. 1972: On 1st June 1972 Space Commission and The Department of Space (DOS) was set up and ISRO was brought under DOS in 1972. 1969: Formation of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on August 15, 1969 and superseded INCOSPAR with an expanded role to harness space technology. 1963: The first sounding rocket was launched from Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) near Thiruvananthapuram. 1962: ISRO was previously the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), set up by the Government of India in 1962 under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), at the initiative of Dr. Homi Bhabha and Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. Source : ISRO