A series of events concluded recently in conjunction with World Space Week (WSW 2021), an initiative to highlight the contributions of science and space-based activities to humanity, focused on inspiring and arousing interest among the younger generations in different fields of the space industry.

Each year, under different slogans, over 90 countries join this movement, contributing with different activities. This year's topic revolved around women in Space in a total of 3,149 events by collaborating entities. GMV took part in this annual movement, within the framework of its membership in the association Women in Aerospace Europe (WIA-E).

The “Women in Space” event was held in person for the first time on October 5 at the CaixaForum cultural center in Madrid. The meeting was aimed at students in their last years of high school and college to give them a closer look at the space industry from the perspective of professionals.

Mariella Graziano, Executive Director of Strategy and Business Development of Flight Systems and Robotics of GMV’s Aerospace sector, took part in this discussion as a member of the panel of professional women from the sector, together with Ana Solano, Software Manager at Thales Alenia Space España; Mónica Rodríguez, Validation Engineer at Alter Technology; Virginia Carcelén, Quality Manager at Airbus Defence & Space; and Marián Ramos, Space Project Contracting Coordinator at CDTI.

The speakers shared their own experience on the life paths that took them from their formative period to their current job positions. During the session, the approximately 50 people in attendance asked questions and expressed concerns to the panel members.

Other colleagues from GMV also collaborated at WSW 2021 by preparing and presenting three reports or white papers, coordinated by the WIA-E association, on various thematic blocks related to the space industry. Following months of work, the different groups, made up of WIA-E members, presented these three white papers at WSW 2021 on vocations and education in STEM, the capabilities and profiles demanded most in the space industry, and interest in increasing the number of women in executive positions.

WIA-E is a non-profit entity that, since 2009, promotes visibility and leadership for women in the aerospace industry, while seeking to promote the sector in society. It has different local groups throughout Europe to reinforce its mission. GMV supports the association and takes part in several of these local groups with networking, training, dissemination, and other activities.

More on World Space Week:

The UN General Assembly framed the observance of this week in commemoration of two important dates: October 4, 1957, the date Sputnik 1–the first artificial satellite–was launched, and October 10, 1967, when the treaty on the principles governing the activities of States in the exploration and use of outer space entered into effect.