Space Festival launches, events planned throughout the weekend
LAS CRUCES - On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to reach space.
There's no way he could have known that 57 years later, thousands of miles away in Las Cruces, New Mexico, space enthusiasts would be celebrating his historical achievement.
But that indeed was the case Thursday when the three-day Las Cruces Space Festival got underway with a series of educational and entertainment events. They were all free and open to the public — as is the remainder of the festival, which includes movies, a space costume contest and a ceremony at the spaceship replica that's now parked by city hall.
More:Las Cruces Space Festival highlights area's connection to the cosmos
Inspiring enthusiasm
The start of the city's first-ever space fest was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the first human in space, organizers said. More so than dwelling on the past, however, the festival organizers are hoping to inspire local residents about what might be possible in the future of space travel and exploration, said Jonathan Firth, Virgin Galactic executive vice president for spaceport and program development.
"We want to talk a bit about the history, but we're mainly forward-looking," he said.
Thursday's events mostly took place on the campus of New Mexico State University, though some, like a free screening of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" at the historic Rio Grande Theatre and a space trivia contest at The Game Sports Bar and Grill, were scheduled to take place elsewhere.
'I'm planning to go'
On an outdoor patio at O'Donnell Hall, siblings Leo Sevilla, 7, and Isabella Sevilla, 5, participated in a hands-on activity simulating the creation of comets. Both said it was their favorite part of the festival. And Leo said he really likes space.
"I'm planning to go someday," he said matter-of-factly, noting that he'll probably have to grow up first.
Their mother, Jennifer Sedillo, said she found out about the space festival via a link someone had shared on Facebook and decided to take her kids Thursday. The family may also go to Friday's and Saturday's events.
"We're having a good time," she said.
More:Challenger Learning Center: Take simulated trip to space during festival
The Sedillos were among about 20 people who earlier in the afternoon attended space talk by Sean Sellers, a graduate student in the NMSU Astronomy Department. He recapped some of the key milestones in mankind's exploration of space and outlined some of the biggest hurdles that remain in sending humans to destinations beyond the moon. He highlighted several achievements of NASA, such as its launch of two space probes in the 1970s — Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 — that are still exploring. On board is a record containing sounds from Earth, including greetings, music and images.
"It has now exited our solar system," Sellers said of Voyager 1. "It has gone beyond where our Sun has influence over. It is officially in interstellar space. I think that's pretty cool."
Among the selections on the record that's hurtling though space are chants by members of a Navajo tribe, performances of Beethoven and Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode," according to NASA.
Fast-paced advancements
Arrowhead Park Early College High students Sarah Lind and Diadra Figler, who attended the talk, said they were inspired by how relatively quickly people have made strides in space travel and other technological developments.
"It's showing where we are now and how we can improve it," Figler said of the presentation.
Lind said the fact there are now spaceports, such as Spaceport America, is a sign of the fast-paced technological advancement.
"And the thought that it's so soon — I thought that commercial space travel wouldn't even be something that we would even think of for years in the future," she said.
Virgin Galactic is planning to launch suborbital spaceflights from Spaceport America in southeastern Sierra County. Officials have declined to state a start date for launches. The company reached a significant milestone recently when its spaceship completed its first powered flight in California.
More:Virgin Galactic spaceship records milestone in California as replica goes up in Las Cruces
Events continue
Firth said a key aspect of the space festival is that it's free. Donors pitched in money and in-kind donations to ensure it's open to everyone. He's hoping the event will continue to grow in future years to become a national and even international attraction.
Hubs for Friday's events include the Mesilla Valley Mall and Hotel Encanto.
The focus of Saturday's events is downtown Las Cruces.
Diana Alba Soular may be reached at 575-541-5443, dalba@lcsun-news.com or @AlbaSoular on Twitter.
Friday, April 13
Theme: Raising Awareness
Noon to 6 p.m.: Space Showcase at Mesilla Valley Mall. Representatives from NASA White Sands Test Facility, Spaceport America, Virgin Galactic, New Mexico Space History Museum, UTEP’s aerospace program, the Experimental Aircraft Association, and others will be featured. The Space Showcase will offer an opportunity for budding astronauts, curious minds and science buffs to interact with and ask questions from experts in space travel, aerospace and space exploration. Challenger Learning Center presenters will have a booth with liquid nitrogen demonstrations (3-6 p.m.)
Space Author: Loretta Hall at Barnes & Noble bookstore (4-6 p.m.)
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Space Talks at Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces
Suzie Imber, associate professor of space physics at Leicester University and winner of of the BBC “Astronauts: Do you have what it takes?" documentary will talk about “My Passion for Space Science” (5:30 p.m.)
Alires Almon, a Las Cruces native and orchestrator of engagment at 100 Year Starship will talk about "The Journey to Interstellar: What will it take to get humanity to another star system?" (6:30 p.m.)
6 p.m.: Mars Mission at Challenger Learning Center. Registration is required.
7 p.m.: "The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy" at Rio Grande Theatre. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 14
Theme: Entertainment
11 a.m.: Mars Mission at Challenger Learning Center. Registration is required.
Noon: "Toy Story" at Rio Grande Theatre. Doors open at 11 a.m.
12:30-1:30 p.m.: Space Talk at Branigan Library. Suzie Imber, associate professor of space physics at Leicester University and winner of of the BBC “Astronauts: Do you have what it takes?" documentary will talk about winning the show.
12:30-2:30 p.m.: Author Loretta Hall at COAS Books
2-2:45 p.m.: Challenger Learning Center open house
3 p.m.: Mars Mission at Challenger Learning Center. Registration is required.
3:30 p.m.: Space Walk on Main Street. Come dressed as your favorite space character (real or fictional) or alien (ditto!). Registration begins at 3 p.m. at city hall. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes.
4-8 p.m.: Making Space for Everyone on Plaza de Las Cruces. There will be many hands-on activities provided by ¡explora!, Insights El Paso Science Center, Asombro and Cruces Creative among others. Experts from the Space Showcase’will be on-hand to interact with attendees. The NMSU Atomic Aggies Rocket Club will display their competition rocket, and New Mexico Space Grant will have their high altitude weather balloon used to observe the recent solar eclipse. Space Pickleball matches will take place on Main Street.
For more info, visit: https://www.lcspacefestival.com