Yuri's Night: A Celebration of SPACE

Yuri's Night Logo courtesy of yurisnight.net

Come join us for Yuri’s Night on April 12, 2018—a night of excitement and learning as we celebrate past and present scientific innovation, especially as it relates to SPACE!

On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to enter space. Upon launch, he famously exclaimed, “Poyekhali!”—“Let’s go!”

Yuri was born on March 9, 1934, to two hardworking parents. They struggled through difficult circumstances and German occupation during World War Two, but through it all, Yuri stayed committed to his education, completing vocational school with honors and technical school. His lifelong dream, though, was to become a pilot.

In pursuit of that dream, he spent a few years climbing up the ranks in the Soviet Air Force before being selected for training in the space program. A year later, his spacecraft, Vostok 1, launched and spent 1 hour and 48 minutes orbiting the Earth before returning him safely. On April 12, 1961, at only 27 years old, not only had he reached his dreams, but he became the first human to venture into space.

Photo courtesy of history.com

After this historic launch, he became an icon of advancement and new horizons and, for that reason, never returned to space. Even still, he was an outspoken advocate for space travel around the globe, supporting friends and colleagues in their endeavors. He was known for his engaging personality and ever-present smile. Unfortunately, he passed away in 1968 in a freak accident during a routine airplane training flight.

However, Yuri’s dedication and commitment to innovation laid the groundwork for hundreds of astronauts to make their way to space. In fact, exactly 20 years after Yuri’s space excursion, the first space shuttle was launched on April 12, 1981. This was the first test flight of the most complex spacecraft built to that date, and the two crewmen spent most of their 52 hours in orbit doing tests.

Yuri's Night on the International Space Station, 2011
Photo courtesy of yurisnight.net

Even now, we continue to push the limits of our scientific knowledge. Since November 2000, people have been living on the International Space Station (ISS), a collaboration between the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada. The purpose of the ISS is to carry out scientific research and act as a base for other exploratory missions in space. This station has a rotating crew of at least 3 people with a maximum capacity of 10.

Yuri would be amazed to see the advances made since his death, and if he were still alive, he’d be calling out “Let’s go!” at every shuttle launch.

That is why, every year, people all around the world recognize the legacy of Yuri Gagarin and succeeding space explorers. Yuri’s Night is celebrated on nearly every continent and is symbolic of cultures and communities coming together to encourage scientific knowledge and look toward a sustainable and harmonious future. It’s also a celebration of Yuri’s curiosity and commitment to his dreams.

This local event, put on by Beaver Creek Reserve and the Children’s Museum of Eau Claire, is perfect for children of all ages and allows them to engage with hands-on activities related to space and scientific advancement. Some of the space-related activities include an inflatable planetarium and, weather-permitting, open viewing in the Observatory.

Yuri’s Night will take place at Beaver Creek Reserve on April 12 from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. Activities will be held on the North Campus at Hobbs Observatory and the Main Lodge (across the road from Wise Nature Center). This event is FREE for those who are members of BOTH Beaver Creek Reserve and the Children’s Museum. Otherwise, it is $3 for Friends of Beaver Creek Reserve and $5 for nonmembers. Note that all children must be accompanied by an adult. Please register in advance by Tuesday, April 10 at beavercreekreserve.org/events.

We look forward to spending time with you!