Meet Space Heroes and Support STEM Education at the Discovery Center

Meet Space Heroes and Support STEM Education at the Discovery Center

Each April, Yuri’s Night parties around the world celebrate the accomplishments of Yuri Gagarin’s first manned spaceflight in April 1961.

 

Kicking off Space Symposium week in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation hosts a “party with a purpose,” of our own. Space Foundation Yuri’s Night takes place the Sunday before the annual Space Symposium. This year on Sunday, April 15, the evening promises to be filled with networking opportunities, space-filled fun and astronaut meet-and-greets (featuring a Russian cosmonaut in 2018 as well!). The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. and is for those 21 and over only.

 

Guests will have the opportunity to meet:

 

Former NASA astronaut Lt. Col. Duane “Digger” Carey

Carey attended the United States Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force

Base, Calif., and after graduation in 1992, he worked as an F-16 experimental test pilot and System Safety Officer. He was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in 1996. After completing two years of training and evaluation, he qualified for assignment as a pilot, and served as pilot on STS-109, in 2002.

 

Former Russian cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev

Selected as a cosmonaut in 1985, Krikalev’s time in space totals 803 days, 9 hours and 39 minutes, including eight EVAs (extravehicular activity). He performed six spaceflights, including commanding Expedition 11 in 2005 to the International Space Station (ISS). His flights included a long-duration Mir Space Station mission and the first joint U.S.– Russian Space Shuttle mission. Krikalev was among the first to enter the ISS in 1998.

 

Former NASA astronaut Col. Mark C. Lee

Lee was a pilot for the Air Force piloting the F-4 and F-16 aircraft. He was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in May 1984. Lee is a veteran of four space flights: STS-30 (1989); STS-64 (1994); STS47 (1992); and STS 82 (1997). During those missions he traveled over 13 million miles and has logged over 26 hours in EVA’s.

 

Former NASA astronaut Kathryn C. Thornton, Ph.D.

Selected by NASA in May 1984, Thornton is a veteran of four space flights: STS-33 in 1989, STS-49 in 1992, STS-61 in 1993 and STS-73 in 1995. She has logged over 975 hours in space, including more than 21 hours of extravehicular activity (EVA). She was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2010.

 

A silent auction will take place during the event, with early online bidding beginning April 5.

 

The Space Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all proceeds from the event will benefit STEM education and inspiring the next generation of space professionals. Space Foundation Yuri’s Night premier sponsor is CACI.

 

Purchase your tickets here before they sell out.