Thousands Turn Out for Yuri’s Night Celebration at NASA Ames

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. – NASA’s Ames Research Center hosted a mega Yuri’s Night celebration on two days: April 9 and April 10, 2010. A 40-foot futuristic rocket ship, air show and top music acts, including Common and N.E.R.D. were among the highlights.

On Friday, April 9, 2010, an estimated students from all over the Bay Area gathered for Education Day. During this free event, students between grades 4-12 engaged in hands-on learning activities that included interactive exhibits, workshops and presentations by leading scientists, engineers and technology experts.

Students made and launched rockets, drove a Mars Rover replica, learned how an infrared camera works and created music with various sound effects in an immersive environment. Guest speakers included musician DJ Q-Bert, who led a workshop on vinyl record scratches and science, video game artist Android Jones demonstrated digital painting, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, who talked about the secrets to his success.

On Saturday, April 10, 2010, an estimated 6,000 space enthusiasts came to celebrate Yuri’s Night at NASA’s Ames Research Center. The celebration – one of the largest of 210 held around the world – commemorated the anniversary of the first human space launch by Yuri Gagarin in 1961 and the first space shuttle mission in 1981.

Musical acts performed on large two stages, including N.E.R.D, The Black Keys, Les Claypool, Common, The Glitch Mob, Hamsa Lila and DJ Qbert.

The celebration had more than 120 exhibits, including groups as diverse as Google Earth, Zero Gravity Arts Consortium, California Academy of Sciences, the Russian Consulate, Loco Bloco, Wonderfest, Aerospace Education Specialists and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

NASA educational programs help the agency attract and retain students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, disciplines critical to space exploration. For more information about NASA’s education programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education

For images from Yuri’s Night Bay Area 2010, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/events/2010/yuris_night/yuris_night_photos.html

For images from Education Day, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/events/2010/yuris_night/yuris_night_education.html

For more information about NASA Ames, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ames/