World's Biggest Space Party Returns to Hampton Roads

HAMPTON, Va., March 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The world's biggest space party is returning to Hampton Roads. Local space enthusiasts will join hundreds of others in cities around the globe for Yuri's Night, to be held locally April 10, from 7 p.m. to midnight, at the Virginia Air & Space Center in downtown Hampton.

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO)

Yuri's Night is an international celebration that commemorates two historic April space achievements. On April 12, 1961, Russian Yuri Gagarin became the first human in outer space. Twenty years later, April 12, 1981 marked the launch of the first U.S. space shuttle. To celebrate these milestones of exploration, Yuri's Night combines an evening of entertainment with interactive NASA activities designed to appeal to the next generation of space leaders. Parties in more than 90 cities in 31 countries on six continents will showcase space-inspired music, dance, science, engineering, technology and art.

Yuri's Night Hampton Roads' high-tech theme will focus on space exploration and what is new and exciting at NASA and Hampton's NASA Langley Research Center. The five-hour party will feature a wide variety of performers, a "Mars"tini Lounge, dance demonstrations, state-of-the-art exhibits highlighting NASA contributions, live performances by local reggae favorite "Nature's Child" and music mixed by Hampton Roads' DJ, Jeyone.

Many high-tech NASA exhibits will emphasize NASA's role in space exploration including robotic astronaut assistant "Robonaut," "Postcards from Space" and the Magic Planet. Other NASA displays will highlight NASA's contributions to NASCAR auto racing. A one-quarter scale racecar replica will show partygoers how aerospace technology has helped the automobile and racing industries.  

Belly dancing by Neferteri and Capoiera dance demonstrations will add a cultural element to the Yuri's Night Hampton Roads. For science lovers, the Peninsula Astronomy Club will offer stargazing using state-of-the-art telescopes on the Virginia Air & Space Center's Observation Deck. And for those who like magic Krendl & Co. will engage visitors with illusions.

Local radio station personality James Steele will be on hand to emcee the event and play a few rounds of Rock Band, Space Camp, Wii and Cornhole with participants. Guests who wear space-themed outfits will be eligible for prizes during a costume contest.  

Tickets at $10 per person for Yuri's Night are on sale now. They are available in advance by calling 727-0900, extension 705 or on-line at http://www.yurihr.com. Food is included with admission and beverages are available for purchase. Yuri's Night is an event for those 18 and older.

Yuri's Night Hampton Roads is presented by NASA's Langley Research Center, Virginia Air & Space Center and Langley Federal Credit Union, with additional support from a number of private sponsors. The Virginia Air & Space Center is located at 600 Settlers Landing Road in downtown Hampton.

For more information on Yuri's Night Hampton Roads, please go to:

http://www.yurihr.com

For more information about NASA's Langley Research Center, please go to:

http://www.nasa.gov/langley

To learn more about the Virginia Air & Space Center, please go to:

http://www.vasc.org

NASA Langley news releases are available automatically by sending an e-mail message to [email protected] with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. You will receive an e-mail instructing you to reply to confirm the action.  To unsubscribe, send an e-mail message to [email protected] with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

SOURCE NASA