October 4 to 10, 2000 is to be observed as World Space Week. The Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE-III) held in Vienna in July 1999 recommended the World Space Week to be celebrated in order to increase the awareness of the society about the benefits of Peaceful Uses of Space Science and Technology and to recognize the contributions, the Space Science and Technology can make to the betterment of human condition.

The week of October 4-10, was specifically selected because it was on October 4, 1957 that the first artificial satellite of the earth, Sputnik-I was launched and on October 10, 1967, the United Nations "Treaty on the Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space" entered into force.

The establishments under the Indian Space Research Organisation will also observe the World Space Week by arranging lectures by eminent persons. It may also be recalled that the Department of Post has already issued four postage stamps on India in Space. An artical by M Y S Prasad, Director INSAT, Master Control Facility, Hassan, Karnataka.

Three Indian Boys Amongst Nine Student Scientists Selected for "Red Rover Goes to Mars" Team

Three Indian boys are among the 9 student scientists selected by the Planetary Society, USA, from over 10,000 entrants worldwide to serve on the Planetary Society's Red Rover Goes to Mars Training Mission. The boys are:

	15 year old Shaleen Rajendra Hartalka, from Udaipur, Rajasthan in the senior group
13 year old Tanmay Sanjay Khirwadkar, of Nagpur, Maharashtra, in the Junior group
	10 year old Vikas Sarangadhara of Bangalore in the Sophomore group