Organization: YURIS NIGHT
Mission: Use the excitement and inspiration of space as a catalyst for educating and developing the next generation of explorers.
Activities: Yuri's Night LA - A series of inspirational talks from NASA Astronaut Story Musgrave, Bill Nye, and Virgin Galactic Pilot Astronaut Mark "Forger" Stucky headlined the event, held underneath the space shuttle Endeavour in the California Science Center. Guests explored the science center prior to the talks and throughout the evening. Rod Roddenberry, son of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, gave a live and interactive talk about exploring life on Earth to inform the search for life elsewhere in the universe while diving in the Kelp Forest exhibit. Booths and experiences, including virtual reality, provided unique contact with local space enthusiast groups, space science missions, and direct access to local aerospace job opportunities. Ten "Space Ambassadors" circulated throughout the crowd during the event talking about their individual careers and encouraging participants to follow their own dreams. Around 1500 people participated in the event and were inspired to pursue or expand their own ambitions for careers in the aerospace industry. Event Date: April 6, 2019
Yuri's Night Space Coast - A series of inspiring talks from private astronaut Richard Garrott, documentary filmmaker Richard Stone, and recording artist Paulie the PSM started off the evening, held underneath space shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Guests explored the visitor center prior to the talks and throughout the evening. Booths and experiences--including virtual reality, stargazing, and space art--provided unique contact with local space enthusiast groups, space science missions, and direct access to local aerospace job opportunities. The Cosmic Perspective group experience guided participants through a rocket launch through high-resolution video and live narration. Fifteen "Space Ambassadors" circulated throughout the crowd talking about their individual careers and encouraging participants to follow their own dreams. Around 900 people participated in the event and were inspired to pursue or expand their own ambitions for careers in the aerospace industry. Event Date: April 13, 2019
Yuri's Night at IAC 2019 - A networking and informal science education outreach event held during the 2019 International Astronautical Congress in Washington, DC. Over 700 attendees experienced interactive exhibits including live stargazing, miniature museum galleries, virtual reality trips to space stations and rocket launches, and space art exhibits. Local participants also learned from international scientists and engineers in attendance. Ten "Space Ambassadors" from various fields circulated in the crowd during the event, talking about their individual careers and encouraging participants to follow their own aerospace dreams. Event Date: October 24, 2019, 6:30-11pm
NTEE category: Education
Secondary category: Arts, Culture & Humanities