It’s time to have fun and enjoy the accomplishments and importance of space in Las Cruces and the surrounding community. To celebrate all things space, volunteers have come together to create New Mexico’s first ever Space Festival. It will take place over three days and nights, April 12th to 14th, across three locations. The theme is “Making Space for Everyone.”
The festival kicks off on April 12th – the day of “Celebration.” On this day, events will be geared toward children and families in celebration of the anniversary of human space flight. Yuri’s Night, which has been celebrated worldwide since 2001, marks the date when the then USSR launched Yuri Gagarin into a single orbit around the Earth in 1961. Events will take place on the New Mexico State University campus, including an evening event organized for youth by NMSU’s Women in STEM (WiSTEM) group, a mobile planetarium in which people can experience and learn about the night sky, and a Tech Center featuring a flight simulation specifically tailored to space travel. There will also be educational NMSU Space Talks and stargazing. Las Cruces Public Schools are also planning events earlier in the week.
Test your space knowledge with Galactic Unite on the patio at The Game 1 Sports Bar and Grill, located at 2605 S Espina St. Free to participate, sponsored by Dickerson Group – prizes will be offered, so assemble your team now and get your quiz on!
5:30 PM Suzie Imber
Associate Professor in Space Physics from UK’s Leicester University and the winner of the BBC “Astronauts: Do you have what it takes?” TV program talks about her passion for space science and recent key discoveries in her areas of work. Free admission, sponsored by Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces.
6:30 PM Alires Almon: “The Journey to Interstellar: What will it take to get humanity to another star system?”
Alires Almon is the Orchestrator of Engagement at 100 Year Starship. Throughout her professional career, Alires has been passionate about the opportunities for society created by advanced science and technology. She received her Master’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Organizational Behavior from New Mexico State University, and is a native of Las Cruces. Free admission, sponsored by Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces.
Suzie Imber – Associate Professor in Space Physics from UK’s Leicester University and the winner of the BBC “Astronauts: Do you have what it takes?” TV program talks about how she won through the tough astronaut selection process. Free admission.
Come dressed as your favorite space character (real or fictional) or alien (ditto!) – Registration is at City Hall, organized by the Downtown Partnership. Free to participate, prizes will be awarded for the best costumes.
Special showcase with more than 20 booths, including Spaceport America, Virgin Galactic, Jacobs Technology, WSMR Museum, NMSU College of Engineering, Challenger Learning Center, Las Cruces Academy, F.L.A.R.E., Las Cruces Museum of Nature & Science, Girl Scouts of the Desert South West, NM Museum of Space History, Harley-Davidson, Cruces Creatives, and more:
It’s time to have fun and enjoy the accomplishments and importance of space in Las Cruces and the surrounding community. To celebrate all things space, volunteers have come together to create New Mexico’s first ever Space Festival. It will take place over three days and nights, April 12th to 14th, across three locations. The theme is “Making Space for Everyone.”
The festival kicks off on April 12th – the day of “Celebration.” On this day, events will be geared toward children and families in celebration of the anniversary of human space flight. Yuri’s Night, which has been celebrated worldwide since 2001, marks the date when the then USSR launched Yuri Gagarin into a single orbit around the Earth in 1961. Events will take place on the New Mexico State University campus, including an evening event organized for youth by NMSU’s Women in STEM (WiSTEM) group, a mobile planetarium in which people can experience and learn about the night sky, and a Tech Center featuring a flight simulation specifically tailored to space travel. There will also be educational NMSU Space Talks and stargazing. Las Cruces Public Schools are also planning events earlier in the week.
Celebration
April 12th
1:00 – 4:00 PM International Mall / O’Donnell Hall
Space Discovery Afternoon @ NMSU
5:00 – 10:30 PM O’Donnell Hall Courtyard Tombaugh Observatory
Yuri’s Kids Evening @ NMSU
Doors Open 6:00 PM /
Show Starts 7:00 PM
Space Movie @ Rio Grande Theater
“Close Encounters of the Third Kind” – Free admission, sponsored by MVEDA. Movie trailer here
6:00 – 8:30 PM
Mars Mission @ Challenger Learning Center
Free to participate, sponsored by Virgin Galactic. Registration is required, please register here.
7:30 PM
Space Quiz @ The Game Sports Bar and Grill
Test your space knowledge with Galactic Unite on the patio at The Game 1 Sports Bar and Grill, located at 2605 S Espina St. Free to participate, sponsored by Dickerson Group – prizes will be offered, so assemble your team now and get your quiz on!
Raising Awareness
April 13th
12:00 – 6:00 PM
Space Showcase @ Mesilla Valley Mall
Interactive Public Exhibits at Mesilla Valley Mall, hosted by Jacobs Technology on behalf of the NASA JSC White Sands Test Facility.
Participants include:
And much more!
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Space Talks @ Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces
5:30 PM Suzie Imber
Associate Professor in Space Physics from UK’s Leicester University and the winner of the BBC “Astronauts: Do you have what it takes?” TV program talks about her passion for space science and recent key discoveries in her areas of work. Free admission, sponsored by Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces.
6:30 PM Alires Almon: “The Journey to Interstellar: What will it take to get humanity to another star system?”
Alires Almon is the Orchestrator of Engagement at 100 Year Starship. Throughout her professional career, Alires has been passionate about the opportunities for society created by advanced science and technology. She received her Master’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Organizational Behavior from New Mexico State University, and is a native of Las Cruces. Free admission, sponsored by Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces.
Doors Open 6:00 PM /
Show Starts 7:00 PM
Space Movie @ Rio Grande Theater
“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” – Free admission, sponsored by Burger Time. Movie trailer here
6:00 – 8:30 PM
Mars Mission @ Challenger Learning Center
Free to participate, sponsored by Cheerie Patneaude. Registration is required, please register here.
Entertainment
April 14th
11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Mars Mission @ Challenger Learning Center
Free to participate, sponsored by Barnett’s Las Cruces Harley-Davidson. Registration is required, please register here.
Doors Open 11:00 AM /
Show Starts 12:00 PM
Space Movie @ Rio Grande Theater
“Toy Story” – Free admission, sponsored by Virgin Galactic. Movie trailer here
12:30 – 1:30 PM
Space Talk @ Branigan Library
Suzie Imber – Associate Professor in Space Physics from UK’s Leicester University and the winner of the BBC “Astronauts: Do you have what it takes?” TV program talks about how she won through the tough astronaut selection process. Free admission.
12:30 – 2:30 PM
Loretta Hall @ COAS Books
Author on space exploration
2:00 – 2:45 PM
Challenger Learning Center Open House
Come check out what the Las Cruces Challenger Learning Center is all about!
2:00 – 8:00 PM
Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo Replica @ City Hall
The next best thing to seeing a real spaceship! Bring your friends, take a photo or two. Free admission.
3:00 – 5:30 PM
Mars Mission @ Challenger Learning Center
Free to participate, sponsored by Virgin Galactic. Registration is required, please register here.
Registration 3:00 PM /
Walk Starts 3:30 PM
Space Walk on Main Street
Come dressed as your favorite space character (real or fictional) or alien (ditto!) – Registration is at City Hall, organized by the Downtown Partnership. Free to participate, prizes will be awarded for the best costumes.
4:00 – 8:00 PM
Making Space for Everyone @ Plaza de Las Cruces and on Main Street
Special showcase with more than 20 booths, including Spaceport America, Virgin Galactic, Jacobs Technology, WSMR Museum, NMSU College of Engineering, Challenger Learning Center, Las Cruces Academy, F.L.A.R.E., Las Cruces Museum of Nature & Science, Girl Scouts of the Desert South West, NM Museum of Space History, Harley-Davidson, Cruces Creatives, and more:
Food trucks will be present!
Details
Organizer