Space history is sprinkled with notable dates. We recognize October 4th, 1957, the launch of Sputnik as the beginning of Space Race. President Kennedy’s declaration that America would have a man on the moon by the end of the decade on May 25th, 1961 is another date, as is the moon landing on July 20th, 1969.

Two space related events have taken on a new significance. On April 12th, 1961, The Soviet Union launched the first man, Yuri Gagarin into space. Twenty years later, the United States launched Columbia, the first shuttle.

Yuri’s Night is an annual celebration that commemorates Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s historic first manned space flight in 1961, and NASA’s inaugural flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia, (STS-1), in 1981. The celebrations began in 2001, and has become a worldwide event. Together with Mach 30 and John Mall High School, we are celebrating Yuri’s Night.

Yuri’s Night covers a wide range of space and techno centric celebrations from large public events sponsored by NASA to private gatherings spent watching the stars  or movies. The idea is to celebrate the achievements of human space flight across the globe.

Mach 30 is holding a Yuri’s Night Celebration on April 13th, starting at 4:30pm, EDT. Join us on Google+ hangouts and YouTube.