This Week in Space #181: "World Space Week" (Oct 10, 2025)
Overview
This episode celebrates World Space Week 2025, exploring its origins, global impact, and continuing mission to make space accessible and exciting for everyone. Hosts Rod Pyle and Tarek Malik welcome special guest Alma Okpalefe, Executive Director of the World Space Week Association, for a deep dive into the importance of space outreach, especially for underrepresented communities. The discussion covers recent space news (SpaceX, exoplanet discoveries, crew dynamics for Mars), the organizational magic of World Space Week, and the growing movement to make space for all—literally and figuratively.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Recent Space News Highlights
SpaceX Starship Flight 11 Readiness
- SpaceX is poised for Starship Flight 11, slated for Oct 13, 2025. This launch will test new heat tiles, partial Starlink satellite deployments, and further steps toward ship and booster reusability.
- “They’ll try to pop out eight simulated Starlink satellites for the new version of Starlink… geared towards the version 3 for Super Heavy, which will use more, more engines to land.” —Tarek Malik (09:30)
Lunar Lander HLS (Human Landing System) Concerns
- Despite rapid Starship progress, hosts note the lag in visible milestones for the lunar HLS variant.
- “We're not hearing much about anything leading to a solid test of the Starship Lunar Lander HLS version, which is supposed to be ready in about 18 months.” —Rod Pyle (10:08)
Exoplanet Discoveries
- Astronomers have cataloged over 6,000 exoplanets but are still searching for an ‘Earth 2.0’.
- “The holy grail… has been that Earth 2.0, you know, that twin to our own planet… and we haven’t found that yet.” —Tarek Malik (12:13)
Success on Mars Needs More Personality Diversity
- New study suggests Mars crews function better with mixed personalities, not just “alpha types.”
- “Crews that have a wider range of personality types tend to perform better under pressure… tends to have a better balance in terms of cooperation and personality meshing.” —Tarek Malik (16:28)
2. Alma Okpalefe’s Journey and the Mission of World Space Week
Alma’s Accidental Path to Space
- Alma shares her origin story: accidentally entering the space sector as a legal advisor on Nigeria’s first communications satellite after returning from the UK.
- “I literally took the first job that was offered to me when I moved back to Nigeria… to provide legal counsel on the first communication satellite project in Sub Saharan Africa.” —Alma Okpalefe (20:14)
- She notes the lack of visible role models for space in Africa, fueling her drive to bridge the “space-society divide.”
What is World Space Week?
- Declared by the UN in December 1999.
- Celebrated annually Oct 4 (Sputnik 1’s launch) to Oct 10 (signing of the Outer Space Treaty).
- A time for global celebration and reflection on achievements and challenges in space.
- “The purpose of the week is really to have this global focus on space, to celebrate the achievements, to discuss the challenges, and also to provide a platform to plan our future in space as well.” —Alma Okpalefe (24:45)
- Events range from school outreach, hands-on activities, art competitions, to major institutional celebrations.
- Participation is often highest where space programs are minimal, showing the universal appeal.
3. Organizing a Global Phenomenon
Structure & Scale
- World Space Week is coordinated via a distributed volunteer network of national coordinators (~95 countries).
- Over 15,000 events reported last year, real figures may be higher due to under-reporting.
- “…last year we did in excess of 15,000 events globally. That’s impressive.” —Alma Okpalefe (45:25)
Event Types & Stakeholders
- Corporate partners (e.g., Airbus) use the week for significant outreach.
- Museums, planetariums, and schools tailor programming to fit cultural contexts.
- Creative crossovers: documentary viewings, art projects (with support from partners like Crayola), and science hackathons.
Theme Selection
- Annual theme set by board; “Living in Space” chosen for 2025 to reflect current realities and aspirations.
- “With living in space, it was more about… what would it actually feel like to live in space, to actually exist beyond Earth?... we try to ensure that the themes are as universally applicable as possible.” —Alma Okpalefe (35:20)
4. Outcomes, Challenges & Broader Impact
Long-Term Outcomes
- Beyond attendance numbers, World Space Week catalyzes deeper changes: e.g., supporting the creation of South Africa’s space agency, bringing stakeholders together (such as founding ISU).
- “So much happens because of World Space Week events… There’s so many stories.” —Alma Okpalefe (43:27)
Message to Global Youth
- Anyone from any background can participate, and even small steps count.
- “Encourage them to believe that there is a space for them in space. That whether you are an engineer, an astronaut, a scientist, an artist, a painter, dreamer… there is, is. Or even a lawyer like myself, there is a space for you.” —Alma Okpalefe (41:48)
- To those in countries with little space infrastructure: get engaged, use resources, dare to dream, and be the change.
- “If you have a dream… dare to dream, get involved… It is a global sector and there are resources that you can utilize to take baby steps into the space sector before your environment is ready for you.” —Alma Okpalefe (61:11)
The Power of Stories and Representation
- Storytelling is key for public support. The space community needs to “translate [space] stories and those outcomes in a way that people outside the space sector can appreciate.” —Alma Okpalefe (44:49)
5. International, Inclusive, Future-Facing
Inclusivity & The Next Step
- A major trend: shifting from technology-only progress to broader participation and representation in space.
- “How do we improve accessibility, access to space, whether it’s in terms affordability and wider representation?” —Alma Okpalefe (52:11)
- Hints at 2026 theme: even greater focus on inclusion and accessibility.
Africa’s Place in Space
- For regions like Africa, the focus should be on practical and downstream benefits: Earth observation, communications, and empowering the burgeoning young population.
- “We may not have the infrastructure… but we can build competence and expertise in the utilization of services and the delivery of services in the downstream.” —Alma Okpalefe (56:07)
East-West Cooperation in Space
- The call is for less division, more cooperation—space is for all humanity.
- “Space is the province of all mankind… we will definitely get further together. So we need to find a meeting of minds, the meeting of cultures, a meeting of egos and find a way to work together.” —Alma Okpalefe (62:51)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Yo, baby, I am so drawn to you.” (Space joke, Rod Pyle, 04:01)
- "If I had to go to Mars with like five other me's, that would be awful." —Tarek Malik (14:29)
- “There is a space for you in space.” —Alma Okpalefe (41:52)
- “Just get, get, just do it. Get over yourselves… we will definitely get further together.” —Alma Okpalefe (62:47)
- “As bleak as this is, it's still better than anywhere else beyond Earth because we're adapted to live here.” —Rod Pyle (58:43)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 02:31 — Preview of episode and guest introduction
- 09:30 — SpaceX Starship 11 summary (technical details)
- 12:13 — 6,000 exoplanet milestone & search for Earth 2.0
- 16:28 — Mars crew diversity study
- 20:14 — Alma Okpalefe on her introduction to space
- 24:45 — World Space Week: origins, significance, and structure
- 29:48 — How events are coordinated globally
- 32:52 — Unique event examples (corporate, school, museum)
- 35:20 — Theme selection and rationale ("Living in Space")
- 45:25 — Attendance numbers and reporting challenges
- 52:11 — Post-ISS: The importance of broad representation in space
- 61:11 — Advice for youth in space-fledgling countries
- 62:47 — Plea for east-west (global) cooperation in space
Further Information
- World Space Week Association: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter.
- Rod Pyle: pilebooks.com, astromagazine.com, nss.org
- Tarek Malik: space.com, @tarikjmalik on socials, @spacetronplays on YouTube
The Takeaway
World Space Week exemplifies the spirit of global, inclusive outreach for the next space era, championing a vision not just of technological progress but of humanity’s shared future beyond Earth—from “hackathons to space agencies.” Whether you’re a lifelong enthusiast or a curious newcomer—there’s a place for you in space.