Let's go ... to a space party!
Posted: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 9:25 PM by Alan Boyle
When Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin blasted off to become the first man in space, his first words after launch were “Let’s go!” The phrase takes on a different meaning on Thursday, exactly 46 years later, with 119 parties marking Yuri’s Night in 32 countries around the world.
Let’s go … to party down with space fliers in New York and Seattle, with space scientists in Washington and San Antonio, or with virtual space residents in Second Life’s online realm. Even the international space station is getting into the act, with a six-course gourmet meal to mark the holiday celebrated as Cosmonauts Day in Russia.
Yuri's Night |
Yuri Gagarin became the
first human in space on
April 12, 1961.
|
Billionaire space passenger Charles Simonyi will break out the roast quail, duck breast and other delicacies - all part of a menu selected by his friend, lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, and prepared by French chef Alain Ducasse. Although alcohol is officially banned on the space station, at least as far as NASA is concerned, this may well qualify as a special occasion to honor Gagarin's legacy with a toast. (Pinot noir is said to go with roast quail, but I suppose a bit of vodka or cognac would serve as well.)
The Cosmonauts Day tradition goes back decades in Russia, but the global Yuri's Night celebration is of more recent vintage: It began in 2001, under the guidance of space activists Trish Garner, Loretta Hidalgo and George Whitesides. Hidalgo (now Mrs. Hidalgo-Whitesides) is executive director of the Yuri's Night organization.
In a pre-party update, Hidalgo highlighted Friday's Bay Area event at NASA's Ames Research Center, where Iranian-American space passenger Anousheh Ansari will be the headliner and virtual-telescope imagery from Slooh.com will be one of the draws. She also cited the bash in Beijing (a first for Yuri's Night) and the zero-gravity-themed hoedown in Houston.
Another hot spot, strangely enough, is Bulgaria. "It's great that Bulgaria has 17 parties this year," she told me. "I'd love to be a fly on the wall in Bulgaria."
As lovely as Sofia must be at this time of year, I'd find it hard to pass up the Los Angeles party, starring George Takei of "Star Trek" fame and science-fiction master Ray Bradbury. Of course, the whole idea behind Yuri's Night is to celebrate the past 46 years of space achievements with art and music - so there'll be plenty of dancing and merrymaking.
This year also marks a first for the Second Life celebration, and that's likely where I'll be hanging out as Boole Allen. If you spot me in the crowd, say hello - but don't ask me to dance. I'm such a newbie that my avatar can barely walk and chew gum at the same time.
So what's next? "I definitely want to see things get bigger and better next year," Hidalgo told me. "I think getting some bigger music acts involved would make a big difference."
Hidalgo also has visions of spreading the Yuri's Night celebration beyond the surly bonds of Earth. "Imagine having events in space," she said. "The Bigelow inflatable Yuri's Night party, or the on-the-moon party."
Sounds good to me. As Yuri said back in 1961: "Poyekhali!"
