Yuri's Night

Guest: Avinash Siravuru. Topics: Indian space program, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), SEDS in India, space entrepreneurism. Avinash Siravuru was our guest today from India to tell us about space development and exploration in his country. We learned about many of the ISRO programs, the student and advocate organizations such as SEDS, and we even received a good answer as to why so many Indian students study the STEM courses and do so well while we here in the United States lag behind in STEM education and engineering.

Guest: Matt Hancher was the guest for this special Wednesday Space Show program. We began our discussion with an explanation of the Yuri's Night global celebrations. For more information on this event, please visit their main web page www.yurisnight.net. From their website, you can find where the parties are located in the United States as well as around the world. If you find there is no party near you, you can start one. Just follow the instructions on the website and add your party's information.

Loretta Hidalgo and George Whitesides returned to The Space Show for this special program promoting the worldwide Yuri's Night Celebration on April 12, 2004. Loretta and George explained to Space Show listeners what Yuri's Night celebrations are about, how to participate in a Yuri's Night party or how to have your own celebration. We also talked with George about new position as Executive Director of the National Space Society. George outlined some of his plans, described the excitement within the organization, and talked about goals and objectives for the organization.

Loretta Hidalgo and George Whitesides are the co- founders of Yuri's Night. Not only does this show focus on the Yuri's Night celebration and its importance, we also explore space advocacy, various space development programs and policies, and possible solutions to moving space commerce and the public's interest in space forward. Loretta and George disclose and detail their respective visions for a space-faring world. Loretta and George are experts in non-traditional space outreach and education.