International Space Partnership Forged At Wpa: Unity Foundation And Exploration Educational Project Sign Mou
Moscow, Russia – September 2025.
Space, with its ability to inspire humanity and transcend borders, took center stage at the World Public Assembly during the panel discussion "Cosmos: A Space of Peace, Trust and Cooperation." The session gathered astronauts, scientists, cultural figures, and humanitarian leaders, who reflected on how space exploration fosters global unity and responsibility for the planet.
The discussion centered around the “overview effect,” the profound psychological shift astronauts experience when viewing Earth from orbit. As Yuri Gagarin famously said: “People, let’s keep this beauty, not destroy it.” The panel highlighted how iconic images such as “Earthrise” — taken by Apollo 8 in 1968 — inspired a worldwide environmental consciousness and reshaped humanity’s understanding of its shared destiny.
Russian cosmonaut Denis Matveev and American astronaut Dzhihangir Eyman jointly addressed participants, recalling the legacy of international cooperation in space — from the historic Soyuz–Apollo handshake to today’s collaboration aboard the International Space Station (ISS), which continues despite political tensions on Earth.
The session also celebrated how space inspires art and culture. The BRICS Universe photo project was showcased, presenting breathtaking imagery of Earth through the eyes of astronauts. Elena Orlova, President of the Nauka. Art. Technologies Foundation, emphasized the importance of merging science, technology, and creativity:
“Space is a victory of reason and labor, but without beauty and humanity, this victory loses its meaning. We must integrate science, art, and technology to fully realize space’s potential for humanity.”
Special attention was also given to space medicine and humanitarian work. Raksana Batsmanova, a NASA international medical team veteran, shared her 12-year experience in astronaut health care, noting:
“Both space and medicine have no borders.”
Alyona Kuzmenko, President of the UNITY Charitable Foundation, presented “Rocket of Dreams” — a unique space art therapy program where children with cancer draw their dreams alongside astronauts and artists. The drawings are later symbolically launched into space.
“This project is more than an art initiative. It gives children hope and a sense of belonging to something greater, helping them through treatment,” Kuzmenko explained.
The event culminated with the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the UNITY Foundation and Pakistan’s Exploration Educational Project. Its founder, Yumna Majid, who has organized space education programs for more than 22,000 students, underscored the importance of this collaboration:
“Space education helps raise responsible and conscious children, uniting countries and continents.”
Majid, recognized internationally for her contributions to space education and gender equality, continues to work with space agencies globally and was recently invited to lead Pakistan’s Department of Space Education.
The panel concluded that space exploration is not only a technological endeavor but also a humanitarian mission — a space of peace, trust, and inspiration that unites continents and generations.