Fifteen Arab astronomers, engineers, and researchers convened online to open Space Week with a unified four-hour scientific dialogue spanning rocket technology, space telescopes, and Earth sciences, bridging international space celebrations with regional astronomical traditions.
The Arab Union for Space and Astronomy Sciences organized the virtual gathering to mark the beginning of regional events that connect World Space Week with the international 100 Hours of Astronomy
initiative. The session ran on a Saturday evening, drawing participants from multiple Arab countries to discuss subjects ranging from the history of regional astronomy to modern space missions.
Union Leadership Opens Virtual Scientific Forum
The online symposium operated under the patronage of Hamid Majul Al-Nuaimi, president of the Arab Union for Space and Astronomy Sciences and director-general of the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences and Technology. Following his opening remarks, Awni Khasawneh, secretary-general of the union, delivered a presentation examining World Space Week from a regional perspective.
Khasawneh noted that the online event forms part of a regular annual tradition where the union brings together prominent astronomers, researchers, amateur observers, and skywatchers across the Arab world. Beyond World Space Week, the union coordinates regional participation for major celestial events, including lunar eclipses, solar eclipses, the observation of the Ramadan crescent, and World Lunar Day.
Rocket Revolution Theme Guides 2026 Space Preparations
The virtual seminar coincided with global preparations for World Space Week, which runs annually from October 4 through October 10. Organizers selected Rocket Revolution
as the guiding theme for 2026, highlighting how new launch technologies and lowered operational costs have expanded access to space, spurred the space economy, and fostered novel applications.
Following the leadership addresses, 14 additional specialists presented research across a broad spectrum of disciplines.
- Scientific collaboration and seismic studies
- The Cold War’s influence on space exploration
- The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and three-dimensional imaging
- Unified regional meteorological observation and the history of Arab astronomy
- Space missions, rocket evolution, and everyday space applications
- Public astronomical awareness programs, dark-sky site documentation, and space program cybersecurity
Global Context and Scale of Space Celebrations
The four-hour virtual meeting bridged two major international observatories on the calendar. In addition to aligning with World Space Week, the discussions coincided with the final days of the 100 Hours of Astronomy
initiative, organized annually by the International Astronomical Union’s Office for Astronomy Outreach under the theme New Perspective on Our Solar System.
Organizing bodies noted the immense international footprint of these recurring events. During the previous year’s observance, World Space Week recorded roughly 50 thousand events across 102 countries, making it the largest annual space event of its kind globally.
