Senate Resolution No. 2042

BY: Senator MARTINEZ

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
October 4-10, 2026, as Space Week in the State of
New York, in conjunction with World Space Week

WHEREAS, The United Nations General Assembly, through Resolution
54/68 of December 6, 1999, established World Space Week to be observed
annually from October 4 through October 10 to celebrate the
contributions of space science and technology to advance human
well-being and quality of life worldwide; and

WHEREAS, The dates of World Space Week commemorate key milestones in
human space exploration, including the launch of Sputnik 1 on October 4,
1957, and the signing of the Outer Space Treaty on October 10, 1967; and

WHEREAS, World Space Week is the largest global space celebration,
observed in nations around the world and promoting international
cooperation, education, and innovation in the space sector; and

WHEREAS, New York State has long been a leader in innovation,
science, and technological advancement, playing a critical role in the
development of the aerospace industry in the United States, including
contributions to the Apollo program with lunar lander components built
on Long Island; and

WHEREAS, New York is home to a robust statewide space ecosystem with
more than 1,500 space-related companies, institutions, facilities,
programs, and organizations across all 10 regions of the State; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 372 space-related companies operate across
426 sites in New York, employing roughly 75,000 New Yorkers, with over
1,600 current open space-related job opportunities across approximately
320 companies; and

WHEREAS, New York maintains strong ties to NASA and the Artemis
program, including 82 NASA-affiliated companies employing more than
20,000 people and 64 Artemis-affiliated companies across 9 of 10 regions
employing more than 18,000 people; and

WHEREAS, The State's space industry spans manufacturing,
telecommunications, electronics, defense, optics, finance, academic
research, and workforce development, with key hubs in Long Island, New
York City, Western New York, Rochester, Buffalo, and the Southern Tier;
and

WHEREAS, Expansion of the space economy will create high-quality
jobs, strengthen regional economies across the State, and increase
opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and

WHEREAS, New York's continued leadership in the space economy under-
scores both its historic contributions to aerospace and its growing role
in advancing innovation and economic opportunity on a global scale; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of these contributions, and in alignment
with the international observance of World Space Week, it is fitting to
high- light New York's role in the global space industry and its impact
on improving lives worldwide; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim October 4-10, 2026, as
Space Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with World Space
Week; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.