On the occasion of the beginning of World Space Week (October 4 – 10), we spoke with Danko Kočiš, the National Coordinator of World Space Week for Croatia. We found out what awaits us this year, how Croatia has positioned itself on the global space map, and how everyone can get involved in the “Rocket Revolution.”
Danko, World Space Week once again gathers space enthusiasts. What does this year’s edition bring us?
From October 4 to 10, we celebrate the largest global event dedicated to space science and technology. This year’s theme is the “Rocket Revolution,” which focuses on the incredible progress in the development of rocket technologies, the reduction of launch costs, and the increasing accessibility of space. This is a historic moment in which space is becoming more accessible than ever before, and we want to bring that closer to our citizens, especially young people.
In addition to your role as the National Coordinator of World Space Week, you are also the General Secretary of the Adriatic Aerospace Association (A3). Looking from this double perspective, what would you particularly highlight as the Association’s main task in the context of this year’s “Rocket Revolution” and the development of the Croatian space sector?
The Adriatic Aerospace Association is proud to provide strong support for the organization and celebration of World Space Week in Croatia. Our primary mission at A3 is to connect the academic community, the education system, and the industry in order to create concrete conditions for the growth of the space sector here.
When we talk about this year’s theme, the “Rocket Revolution,” for us in the Association, it means a strong incentive to move from theory to practice. It is no longer enough just to talk about space; we must actively build it. That is why, through A3, we strongly advocate and encourage concrete engineering endeavors – from the development of small satellites to sounding rockets and advanced materials. I particularly want to emphasize the importance of synergy: by connecting domestic experts, innovators, and technology companies, we prove that high technology is not reserved only for major global powers. Croatia has the knowledge and the experts.
World Space Week is our largest stage on which we present this engineering and educational potential to the public, but it is also our clear message to decision-makers: investing in the aerospace sector is a direct investment in retaining top talents, technological sovereignty, and Croatia’s innovative future. We at A3 are already building that future.
Croatia has proven to be extremely active in this area in recent years. How successful are we actually on a global scale?
I am extremely proud of our results. Croatia has distinguished itself as one of the leading countries, reaching 4th place in the world in 2024 and 2025 in terms of the number of events, despite limited financial resources. Practically since 2019, Croatia has been in the top 10 countries in the world in terms of the quantity and quality of activities, and when we look at the ratio of activities and the number of participants to the total population, we are often in the top 3 countries in the world. With more than 160 activities last year, we showed strong enthusiasm and commitment. This is proof of the tremendous effort of our educators, schools, astronomical societies, and volunteers.
What are the key national projects you are focusing on this year?
This year, we are placing special emphasis on the project “Small Satellites and Rocket Modeling.” We invite all schools, associations, and enthusiasts to get involved in hands-on education, and the building and launching of models. We want to promote domestic engineers and successes, such as the launch of the CroCube satellite and projects like the Perun I probe. These examples best show the potential Croatia has in STEM fields and the aerospace industry.
How can schools, kindergartens, and citizens get involved in the celebration?
The possibilities are truly endless! You can organize rocket modeling workshops, lectures, public star observations with telescopes, or fun events like quizzes and making space-themed cakes. We can celebrate space through every school subject. Most importantly, all organizers should register their events for free on the website www.worldspaceweek.org to be included in the global calendar.
We know that participation also brings certain benefits for the teachers and educators themselves?
That’s right. After the successful implementation of activities and sending a report to our email address ured@worldspaceweek.hr, all mentors, teachers, and educators can receive an official certificate of participation. They can use these certificates for scoring and professional advancement in their work, which is our way of thanking them for the effort they invest in the education of young generations.
Why is education through space themes such a powerful and effective tool in the education of children and young people?
Space possesses a unique appeal that naturally arouses curiosity in students of all ages. When you put classic school subjects like physics, mathematics, or computer science into the context of space exploration, abstract formulas suddenly get a concrete and exciting meaning. Through building rocket models or analyzing satellite data, students not only learn theory, but also develop critical thinking, solve complex engineering problems, and learn to work in a team. In addition, space is not reserved only for STEM—through it we connect art, history, literature, and even philosophy. Education through space themes creates a generation of innovators who are not afraid to tackle the greatest challenges of the future.
You mentioned the richness of this year’s program. Can you present in more detail the six main highlights of the event in Croatia for this year?
I am very proud to highlight six exceptional initiatives and events that form the backbone of our celebration this year:
The National Project “Small Satellites and Rocket Modeling”: Our central and most important project! We invite all schools, associations, and enthusiasts to register via our online forms and join the practical activities of building and launching models and small satellites.
The Nikola Tesla Technical Museum and CroCube, Zagreb (October 8 – 10): A three-day program in the capital city that gathers leading engineers and popularizers, along with STEM fest booths featuring our first satellite, CroCube, expert lectures, and film screenings.
XV. Gymnasium (MIOC), Zagreb (October 4 – 10): A week-long student program marking the 11th year of participation in WSW, which includes a lecture by Ante Radonić “Rocket Revolution – from Sputnik to Starship,” the rocket launching competition “ROCK(ET) ME BABY,” and a mobile planetarium.
The Faculty of Science (PMF) and the Split Physical Society (October 5 – 9): Five days of free science program on the Split campus, including public sky observations with telescopes from the terrace of the Faculty of Maritime Studies, an Astro-quiz, children’s workshops, and themed “space treats.”
The Cultural and Historical Center of Sisak-Moslavina County, Sisak (October 6 – 10): The “Space Technologies in the Palm of Your Hand” manifestation offers everything through themed days—from workshops on building spacecraft for the youngest to the application of artificial intelligence in rovers and an exhibition of rocket technology.
Starry Village Mosor and the Split Association of Technical Culture (ZTK): 3D modeling workshops of space rockets and planets for youth, as well as organized educational visits of elementary school students to the observatory on Mosor, along with observing the night sky.
What kind of concrete activities can individual schools, kindergartens, or associations organize as part of Space Week?
Activity formats are completely flexible. For younger ages and kindergartens, these can be art workshops making rockets from recycled materials, reading stories about space, or plays. In elementary and high schools, these can be physics experiments with thrust and aerodynamics, launching water rockets, building 3D models of satellites, space trivia quizzes, or satellite imagery analyses in geography. Associations and observatories can organize open days, telescope night observations, or public lectures. It is important to emphasize that an activity can last only one class hour, but also the entire week—every initiative is equally valuable!
For everyone who is reading this interview now and wants to get involved – what are the exact steps to apply?
Getting involved is extremely simple and completely free!
Step One: Conceptualize your activity or join our national project “Small Satellites and Rocket Modeling” via our online forms.
Step Two: Register your event on the official global platform www.worldspaceweek.org (by clicking “Submit an Event”) so your location and school officially shine on the world map.
Step Three: Share your moments on social media using the hashtags #worldspaceweek and #wsw2026.
Step Four: Upon completion, send us a brief report with photos to ured@worldspaceweek.hr so we can issue you official certificates for professional advancement and promote your results on our national channels!
What is your long-term vision for Croatia when it comes to space technologies and young generations?
My vision is for Croatia not to be just an observer in the global space race, but an equal participant. We already have great examples like the CroCube satellite and sounding rocket projects. I want World Space Week to give every child in Croatia, regardless of whether they live in a small village or a big city, the opportunity to feel the excitement of discovery and realize that they too can one day work in the space industry as engineers, scientists, or astronauts. Space teaches us that boundaries do not exist—they are only in our minds!
Your message for the end?
Our main goal is to inspire young people for STEM disciplines and show them that the universe is closer than they think. Join us and help Croatia shine on the world space map once again! Enjoy, explore, and remember—the universe is infinite, and so must be our imagination about activities, not only during Space Week, but every day in our lives!
