Amman, Sept. 16 (Petra) -- Jordan is set to mark the World Space Week with a national program running from October 4-10, bringing together astronomy activities, teacher training, educational initiatives, scientific research and student innovation under the theme "Rocket Revolution." Afnan Abu Qleisha, head of the Space Week Committee at the Jordan Astronomical Society, said the program will kick off on October 4 with an event titled "Saturn Night," coinciding with Saturn’s opposition, when the planet will be well positioned for observation through telescopes.

The program will also feature specialized training for physics and Earth sciences teachers, organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development.

Abu Qleisha said the program will include a student competition running from Space Week through early April next year. The competition will feature two tracks: the first will focus on developing research and scientific projects related to space exploration, while the second will challenge students to design and launch rockets and document their experiments in short educational videos.

The activities will conclude with the announcement of the winning projects and the recognition of the participants who secure the top three places.

The initiative aims to promote awareness of astronomy and space science, foster scientific and critical thinking among students, strengthen teachers’ skills, and expand the participation of Jordanian schools and institutions in World Space Week activities. It also seeks to connect students with the rapid advances taking place in space science and technology.

//Petra//WH