MOFFETT FIELD, Calif., — Yuri’s Night Bay Area 2008 (YNBA 2008) will bring together scientists, engineers, artists, musicians and an expected 8,000 guests at NASA’s Ames Research Center on April 12 for a multimedia celebration of space exploration and NASA’s 50th anniversary year.

Co-hosted by Ames and the Space Generation Advisory Council, the 12-hour event will feature more than 25 musical acts and a host of speakers to commemorate the anniversary of the first human space launch (Yuri Gagarin, April 12, 1961) and the first space shuttle mission (John Young and Bob Crippen, April 12, 1981). YNBA 2008 coincides with other celebrations around the world.

More than 30 cutting-edge interactive demonstrations will showcase Ames’ innovative contributions to science, aeronautics and space exploration, and dozens of commercial and academic groups will explore the theme “Radical Technology for Sustainable Future.”

News media planning to attend should contact Kelly Humphries, 650-604-5026 or Delia Santiago, 408-306-8579 before 5 p.m. PDT Wednesday, April 9, for credentials.

WHAT: An opportunity to attend a gathering of scientists, engineers, artists, musicians and entrepreneurs celebrating the excitement of space exploration past, present and future.

WHO: Speakers will include Ames Director S. Pete Worden, astrobiologist Jonathan Trent, video game designer Will Wright, innovative green power technologist Saul Griffith, urban mass transit designer Chris Perkins, Pascal Lee of the Haughton Mars Project, and remarks by Stewart Brand, a founder of The Long Now Foundation and creator of the Whole Earth Catalog.

WHERE: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., Hangar 211 and adjoining airfield tarmac. Performances and lectures will take place on four stages.

WHEN: From 2 p.m. PDT Saturday, April 12, 2008, to 2 a.m. Sunday, April 13, 2008.

Abridged Schedule

  • 1 p.m. Early media access begins
  • 2 p.m. Gates open
  • 3:30 p.m. Saul Griffith speaks
  • 4:15 p.m. Grand opening ceremony featuring Ames Director S. Pete Worden
  • 5:30 p.m. Will Wright speaks
  • 6 p.m. Aeronautika aerobatics demonstration
  • 7 p.m. NASA Research Park presentation on “SkyTran: A Transportation Strategy for the 21st Century”
  • 9:30 p.m. Performance by Telstar with Phil Lesh; Lecture by Pascal Lee
  • 2 a.m. Gates close

For more information about YNBA 2008, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/YNBA/

For more information about the Space Generation Advisory Council, and YNBA 2008 performers and schedules, visit:

http://yurisnightbayarea.net

For more information about NASA Ames, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ames/