: INTERVIEW: The many ways space technologies make the world a better place #IndiaNEWS #International Maruška Strah is the head of the World Space Week Association, which coordinates the thousands

INTERVIEW: The many ways space technologies make the world a better place #IndiaNEWS #International
Maruška Strah is the head of the World Space Week Association, which coordinates the thousands of activities planned for this year’s World Space Week. In an interview with UN News, before the stratospheric launch on Tuesday, she told us there’s a growing interest in space exploration, as more and more people realize how important space technology is to achieving a more sustainable future here on Earth.

Maruška Strah, Executive Director of the World Space Week Association
The theme of this year’s World Space Week is “Space and Sustainability???. The UN Week, the largest annual space event in the world, will focus on explaining how the technologies developed to send objects and people into space, are having a direct benefit on the ground.
Maruška Strah, the Executive Director of the World Space Week Association, is a member of the International Institute of Space Law, and a member of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety, as well as the European Centre for Space Law. She is studying for a PhD in Legal Studies at the Law Faculty of the University of Vienna, where she is focusing her research on Space Traffic Management, her main area of interest.
UN News Is interest in space growing?
Maruška Strah When I joined four years ago, we counted around 4000 World Space Week events, in 86 countries. Last year, we recorded 6418 events in 96 countries, so its really growing.
More nations are becoming involved, and more people are concerned about space, whats happening in the sector, and also how space can benefit humanity.
I think there are several reasons for this. One is that we are seeing a lot of positive news from the media, when it comes to space exploration, and the dream of going into space is becoming more realistic, for more people.
Artists in space
Also, we are now understanding that everyone has a place in the space sector. Its not just for astronauts, engineers, or scientists. Im a policy person, and I didnt know that space lawyers exist until I chose my Masters degree!
There will be opportunities for so many kinds of people, if we want to have a presence on another planet. We need artists, music, paintings, books. Theres really an opportunity to explore, and weve seen a growing number of events that are related to exhibitions or art contests.
UN News What is the theme of World Space Week this year?
Maruška Strah Space and sustainability. This is very important thing, because it demonstrates our values, as an association committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There will be many really interesting events, looking at how we can use space related technologies and applications for the benefit of life on Earth, and how we can protect space as a resource.