World Space Week is an annual international celebration of the contribution that space science and technology makes to the betterment of the human condition. The date of the week 4 – 10 October commemorate key milestones in space: 4 October 1957 was the launch date of Sputnik I, the first human-made Earth satellite. The first international space treaty, the Outer Space Treaty, went into effect on 10 October 1967.

"Throughout history, humans have looked to the heavens and wondered about the universe and our place within it. Today, we are learning much about our universe but, with each answer comes more questions. Not only do the questions deal with the nature of the galaxies and stars, but the nature of life itself. This year World Space Week is a time to probe what we know, what it means, and what we have yet to learn about the mysteries of the cosmos."

Visit www.worldspaceweek.org for more information

Also on this day……

4 October: World Habitat Day

4 October: Learn to Sign Week run by the British Deaf Association

4 October: National Schools’ Fire Safety Week

4 October: St Francis Day

St Francis of Assini died on this day in1226. He was a rich young man who saw a vision of Jesus. He later became a saint.

4 October: On St Francis Day swallows are supposed to fly to the bottom of ponds and hibernate through the winter.

In the days before the idea of migration was understood, this seemed a reasonable explanation for their sudden disappearance. The fact that swallows skim the surface of ponds for insects may have been the starting point for this particular folklore.