Celebrate the anniversary of Yuri Gagarin becoming the first person to orbit the Earth!
Yuri’s Day honors human spaceflight with all-ages activities and fun, featuring the authors of the graphic novel Absolute Zeros: Camp Launchpad, Greg Smith and Michael Tanner and the author of Waiting for Spaceships: Scenes from a Desert Community in Love with the Space Shuttle, Ted Huetter.
Don't miss the special space-themed LEGO display by the Seattle Area LEGO Users Group (SEALUG), craft activities and a fun, all-ages dance party featuring DJ Trent Von from c89.5 FM!
Event Details
Date: Saturday April 12, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Yuri's Day is FREE for Museum Members and included with general admission.
Activity Schedule
Family Workshop
Alaska Airlines Aerospace Education Center | 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM
Learn about animal astronauts and create your own FLATstronaut.
Dance Party
Great Gallery Well | 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Join an all-ages dance party under the Blackbird with DJ Trent Von from c89.5 FM!
Book Talk: Waiting for Spaceships by Ted Huetter
Charles Simonyi Space Gallery | 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM
Waiting for Spaceships vividly portrays a forgotten community of pilgrims who camped on a barren patch of California’s Mojave Desert to witness space shuttles come to Earth. The location was Edwards Air Force Base—endless miles of wild desert protecting the world’s top spot for military test flights. Photographer Ted Huetter camped with the shuttle fans for years, and his endearing images of the people there take us back to a precious time at a place like no other.
This presentation includes live ASL interpretation.
Book Talk: Absolute Zeros: Camp Launchpad by Greg Smith and Michael Tanner
Side Gallery | 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Reach for the stars in this exciting graphic novel about three ambitious, space-loving kids who must put their differences aside to save their summer camp before it closes...for good. Summer is in full swing, which means a new class of kids has arrived to attend the best space camp in Florida...or at least, it used to be. With growing competition from the trendy rival camp next door, Camp Launchpad needs all the help it can get to keep its doors open.
This presentation includes live ASL interpretation.
Book Signing: Waiting for Spaceships and Absolute Zeros: Camp Launchpad
Side Gallery | 3:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Meet the authors of the books featured in today's book talks and get your books signed. Both books will be available for purchase in the Side Gallery during the signing.
All-Day Activities | 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- SEALUG Lego Display | Side Gallery
- Craft Tables | Great Gallery
- Spacesuit Design Contest Info Table | Great Gallery
- c89.5 FM Booth | Great Gallery
Plus, look throughout the Museum for special appearances from members of the Pacific Northwest R2 Builders Club and Garrison Titan of the 501st Legion!
Thank you to our Partners!
