World Space Week 2024 and Its Impact
A Journey from Law to Space Advocacy
Alma Okpalefe didn’t set out to become a space advocate. In fact, her initial career plan was focused on oil and gas law, a path common for many in her home country of Nigeria. However, a fortuitous encounter with space law changed everything. Alma recounts how, during her time in the UK, she stumbled upon a space law course, a subject that piqued her curiosity. Despite her initial reluctance and lack of support, she later found herself working on Nigeria’s first communications satellite project—a pivotal moment that catapulted her into a long and successful career in space law.
“I never thought I’d work in space,” Alma says. “It wasn’t until I started working on Nigeria’s communications satellite that I realized the incredible potential space has to offer, especially for developing countries.”
World Space Week: A Global Celebration of Space As the Executive Director of the World Space Week Association, Alma now leads a global movement to celebrate and raise awareness of the benefits of space exploration and technology. World Space Week, held annually from October 4th to 10th, is the largest space event on the planet, with over 16,000 events held across 85 countries in 2023 alone. This year, the focus is on “Space and Climate Change”, a theme chosen to highlight the role of space technologies in understanding and combating climate change.
“Space is not just for luxury exploration,” Alma explains. “It’s a tool that can help address urgent global challenges, from agriculture to disaster management and climate monitoring. This year’s theme will amplify that message.”
What to Expect for World Space Week 2024 Alma encourages everyone to get involved, whether by attending an event or hosting their own. World Space Week is open to everyone, from educators and students to space enthusiasts and industry professionals. There are plenty of ways to participate, including stargazing events, educational webinars, panel discussions, and even space-themed movie nights.
For those interested in hosting an event, Alma advises registering the event on the World Space Week website to get it listed on the global calendar. This allows participants worldwide to find local events and take part in this global celebration.
“It’s a week to celebrate the achievements of space exploration and to spark interest in the next generation,” says Alma. “Whether it’s through a school presentation, a community event, or an industry panel, every contribution helps to raise awareness and understanding of space.”
Closing Thoughts Reflecting on her journey, Alma emphasizes the importance of building awareness, particularly in regions where space technology is often misunderstood or considered a luxury. She notes that creating practical, local connections to space technology—whether it’s improving education through satellite connectivity or enabling disaster management—is key to changing perceptions.
As World Space Week 2024 approaches, Alma is hopeful that more people around the world will join the movement to explore, celebrate, and advocate for the future of space.
Get Involved! World Space Week 2024 runs from October 4th to 10th. You can visit World Space Week to register your event, explore the global calendar, and find resources to help you participate in this year’s theme, “Space and Climate Change.”
