01 October 2004
	SIDELINES DOWN TO EARTH

World Space Week is an annual event (October 4-10) that raises awareness about how space technology improves lives. This year's theme is Space for Sustainable Development. It encourages participants to explore ways in which space technology helps society. Space science is not only focused outwards. Satellites face inwards and provide services on earth. "Space provides a unique vantage point to study the environment and deliver communications and positioning/navigation services ," says the head of SA's national working group on space science & technology, Peter Martinez. "Space science forms as much a part of the social and political landscape as oceanic exploration did 300 years ago. The use of space for development in Africa cannot be ignored. SA is uniquely positioned to respond ."