Space science and technology education outreach plays vital roles in inspiring young learners and creating scientific awareness, as well as supporting national development. This study was aimed at examining the impacts and challenges of space science education outreach in Nigeria, with a specific focus on the Centre for Basic Space Science and Astronomy, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. The research made use of a descriptive method to examine how space education outreach activities influence students, teachers, schools, and communities, while also identifying some of the challenges faced during implementation. The research shows that some of the impacts of the space education outreach are supporting Nigeria’s space goals, developing future space professionals, fostering space science, enhancing teaching methods, educating the public on space science and Nigeria's place in it, promoting community engagement, and increasing interest in STEM education. It was also observed that some of the challenges facing the outreach programme are difficulty in getting approval from schools, insufficient funding for outreach programmes, limited manpower from the office, poor coordination of students by some teachers, inadequate provision of resource materials, and limited access to technology and internet connectivity. The findings reveal that while space science outreach has contributed significantly to science education and awareness in Nigeria, it is still being faced with some challenges that need urgent attention. It was concluded that strengthened institutional support, improved funding, and enhanced collaboration with schools and communities will significantly enhance the success of space education outreach programme in Nigeria.
Funding, Internet connectivity, Outreach, Space education, Space professionals, STEM.
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