Yuri’s Night Cleveland 2011 to Celebrate 30 Years of Shuttle
CLEVELAND — A celebration of humanity’s achievements in space, named Yuri’s Night in honor of the first man to be launched into space, will be held Friday, April 15 at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in University Circle. This year’s local celebration, Yuri’s Night Cleveland 2011, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s flight and 30 years of space shuttle flight.
The evening includes a VIP dinner followed by a World Space Party. The public is invited to attend either or both events.
The night begins with a VIP dinner from 7 to 8 p.m. for guests 18 and over. Ohio astronaut Mike Foreman and NASA aerospace engineer Matt Melis will give a presentation on their unique experiences and knowledge of the space shuttle.
During dinner, guests will view the NASA documentary “Ascent Commemorating Shuttle.” Melis, producer of the documentary, will share his insights on this visually stunning compilation of launch imagery.
Foreman, a veteran of two space flights, flew on STS-123 in March 2008 and STS-129 in November 2009, and has logged more than 637 hours in space. Melis, a researcher for Glenn’s Ballistic Impact Laboratory, has nearly 25 years of experience as a structural research analyst and has worked on the Columbia Accident Investigation and the Shuttle Return to Flight mission.
In addition to dinner, VIP participants will receive a Yuri’s Night Cleveland T-shirt. Admission to the VIP dinner is $60 or $45 for Nature League members. The deadline for reservations is Friday, April 8.
Immediately following the VIP dinner, the World Space Party will commence. The entire Museum will turn into a cosmic cocktail party to celebrate 30 years of space shuttle flight. From 8 p.m. to midnight, guests will enjoy entertainment by PJ Grakauskas and local area DJ friends, dance demonstrations, NASA exhibits including Eva, the inflatable astronaut, and take home a souvenir from the very popular “Picture Yourself in Space” photo booth. The video documentary will also be shown throughout the evening. Event goers are encouraged to dress in Sci-Fi costumes. A cash bar and appetizers will be available.
Admission to the Yuri’s Night Cleveland World Space Party is $10 at the door.
All guests attending the Yuri’s Night Cleveland 2011 events will receive a complimentary DVD of the NASA documentary.
Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to fly in space on April 12, 1961. Twenty years later, April 12, 1981, marked the launch of the first U.S. space shuttle. Yuri’s Night has been a worldwide celebration every year around April 12 for the past 11 years.
NASA’s Glenn Research Center’s Developing Professionals Club is co-hosting the event with the Nature League of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Organizations supporting this year’s event include Ohio Aerospace Institute, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, The Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club and Tau Zero.
For more information on Yuri’s Night Cleveland, log on to Facebook and search for Yuri’s Night World Space Party @ Cleveland.
For additional information, VIP dinner reservations and World Space Party tickets, visit: http://cmnh.org/site/GetInvolved/BecomeAMember/NatureLeague/Events.aspx
