The HabForum

Hey guys, I'd love to see some of your ideas about a space party.
I'm planning the Champaign, Illinois, Yuri's Night party. http://www.yurisnight.net/spaceparty.php

If you're too lazy to check the website out, it's a party that celebrates space! It's held every year on April 12th, and it celebrates the achievements of everyone involved in space. Its namesake is Yuri Gagarin who flew into space on April 12th, 1961, but it also celebrates the first flight of the shuttle Columbia on April 12th, 1981.
It's something really fun that you really ought to get involved in, even if you just get a few friends together and watch a space-themed movie or finally shoot off that rocket you keep meaning to try.
If you check the website, it's a global party, so you might find something fun near you.

This is the plan for Illinois:
4pm Barbecue, T-shirt sales
6pm SPACE RACE!
8:30pm Astronomy Observatory event
10pm Awards and Afterparty (holler)

We have some events planned for the Space Race, but I know you guys are all really creative, and you all probably love space. Just think.. if I was Education Jason, what would I do?

It's going to be like a scavenger hunt type of thing, where you have to run all over the place and complete as many activities as you can and get stickers to prove it before we meet at the nearby observatory.

These are some of the activities.. can you think of anything else that would be fun?
-Peeing on a tire (a la Gagarin and all the cosmonauts following him)
-Speak Russian from a paper / Interpret Russian using a phrase book
-Shot of vodka
-Eat freeze dried food
-Astronaut training - spin in circles and then try to press buttons
-Find a Russian space movie (Solaris) at the nearby indie video store
-Other astronaut tests?

Also, for our awards ceremony and afterparty, I can't seem to think of any space-themed music. Can you guys think of anything? I'm drawing a blank.

For some reason we were fixated on Russian things, so anything you can really think of would be awesome. What do you think?
Even if it's ridiculous, it might be better than not. (See: peeing on a tire)
Love thanks, Kate

Rocket Man! Elton John, baby.

I just thought of that.

We also wanted to get one of those sweet Moonjump things, but I don't know how much that would be...

As far as music goes, I have this incredible CD that would be perfect for such an event: 'To Touch The Stars' by Prometheus Music:

http://www.prometheus-music.com/space.html

(You can download a few songs, Surprise! being the most appropriate for your party, as it is a Russian folk song of sorts.)

Or, you can try to find music by Max Q (and if you do, let me know where you got it, because I have been searching for their music for AGES and have been unsuccessful every time.) Then, there is the Apollo 13 soundtrack - all kinds of songs that remind me of space, or maybe it's just because I have the movie memorised... who knows...

NASA also has all of its wake-up calls to the astronauts (including songs) archived at the following website:

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/ima ... index.html

Scavenger hunt activities: are you going to have the teams take pictures of wach challenge or something so you know who did what?

More activities:
- write their names on a door (they do this before all Russian flights)
- have them complete a simple space science experiment
- give them an object they must make neutrally buoyant in a local pool
- survival techniques (i.e. make a fire with flint and steel)
- There is some movie the Russiand watch before their flight... oh... why can't I remember its name... gah!
- construct a (flight-worthy) paper aeroplane, or a paper model of a spacecraft/capsule
- make a menu of Russian foods a cosmonaut would eat in a day
- egg drop!
- zip line
- obstacle course...

Shot of vodka = a no for me (I'm allergic), and it may not be suitable for others, even more than urinating on a tyre.
Urinating on a tyre = may violate some laws... although it is a good idea

That's all I can think of for now. I am in the midst of planning my own Space theme programme, albeit a 5-day camp for kids, not a one day party for all... Best of luck. If you have any questions, let me know.

Click here for examples of all kinds of space-related music, a lot of which I've never even heard of! If you're interested in party favors, check out sites like thespacestore.com, spacetoys.com, alltherightstuff.com, or countdowncreations.com. They have tons of cute stuff! I have the space-related birthday/cake candles, and they're adorable.

Of course, loving costumes the way I do, I'd be encouraging everyone to dress up as a cosmonaut/astronaut/alien/sci-fi character!!

Have fun and be sure to tell us how it goes!

Everybody loves a little Apollo 13!

I could have a space themed party but i'd be the only one there...

Hey, I'd come!

LOL. Long drive for a crappy party but you're invited!

haha no party is crappy with Liz there!!!

SpaceCanada wrote: More activities:
- write their names on a door (they do this before all Russian flights) - have them complete a simple space science experiment - give them an object they must make neutrally buoyant in a local pool - survival techniques (i.e. make a fire with flint and steel) - There is some movie the Russiand watch before their flight... oh... why can't I remember its name... gah! - construct a (flight-worthy) paper aeroplane, or a paper model of a spacecraft/capsule - make a menu of Russian foods a cosmonaut would eat in a day - egg drop! - zip line - obstacle course...

Jennifer, thanks for all the great ideas! It really helped.. you're awesome!!! Thanks to you, too, Carrie. I love space goodies. I don't even know how much I've spent at the Space Gear shop over the years.. I love it!
You guys rock to the max.

I'm ordering cookies and brownies from this cookie delivery service called "Insomnia Cookies." Crazy! What will they think of next? It's only open from like 8pm-2:30am and they just do delivery. Mmm cookies.

Wow. I should work there its right within my time range for being awake. I bet they make lots of money.... yeah. Anyway, I hope your space party is a big hit!