Edit by Brice R.
11/16/2007
The future of the space industry came together at MIT last weekend--and Yuri's Night was there to catch up with them.
SpaceVision 2007, the annual national meeting for Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS), attracts some of the most prominent individuals and companies in the private space industry. This year's roster included X Prize founder Peter Diamandis, NASA Ames Director Pete Worden, and many others speaking to hundreds of space-advocating students and professionals at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Yuri's Night co-founders Loretta Hidalgo and George Whitesides were on hand to discuss the groups they have a hand in, such as the National Space Society and, of course, Yuri's Night itself. Yuri's Night was a focal point for Loretta's speech, as the audience was captivated by her stories and pictures of the massively popular NASA Ames and Los Angeles events of Yuri's Night 2007. Private space explorer Anousheh Ansari, a participant in the NASA Ames event, was also the keynote speaker at SpaceVision 2007.
The Yuri's Night staff weren't the only ones getting excited about the event, however. SEDS co-founder Bob Richards, giver of a fascinating speech on the history of SEDS during the conference's traditional banquet, ended his presentation with a highly supportive plug for Yuri's Night. As SEDS and ISU (the International Space University of Strasbourg, France) are creating the space leaders of today, the implication went, Yuri's Night is bringing together space enthusiasts for the future. When the question, "Who's planning to attend or make their own party in 2008?" was asked, literally every hand in the room shot up.
"I was really impressed with the presentations!" said SEDS member and SpaceVision attendee Stephanie Jones. "I'm definitely looking forward to helping set up Yuri's Night 2008."
SEDS chapters at the University of Buffalo and UNC-Chapel Hill, among others, are already gearing up for their local Yuri's Night parties. To find out if a SEDS chapter near you is planning on hosting a Yuri's Night party in 2008, contact your local group at http://seds.org/chapters.php.