Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Oct 14, 2011 7:10:50 GMT -6
Adler Planetarium Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Human Spaceflight
When: Wednesday, October 19
Where: Adler Planetarium – Universe Theater
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: Included with General Admission*
Available on a first-come, first-served basis from the box office.
*Note: General admission for Illinois residents is free on Wednesday, October 19.
Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (1934 -1968) became the first human in space on April 12, 1961 during his historic 108-minute orbital flight aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft. Less than one month later, American astronaut Admiral Alan B. Shepard became the first American in space.
Join the Adler Planetarium and Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International for an afternoon panel discussion with cosmonauts Boris Volynov and Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu. Volynov and Prunariu will discuss the significance of Gagarin’s world changing flight, and their personal experiences and mission accomplishments as part of the international space program.
Following the panel discussion, visitors can view the bronze bust of Yuri Gagarin, a gift to Chicago from its sister city Moscow. The bust will be on display at the Adler alongside Alan B. Shepard’s jet flight suit and helmet, on loan from the personal collection of the Alan B. Shepard Family.
Dr. James T. Andrews, professor of Modern Russian and Comparitive Eurasian history and director of the Center for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities at Iowa State University, will moderate the panel discussion. Following the session, Dr. Andrews will be available to sign copies of his recent book “Into the Cosmos: Space Exploration and Soviet Culture” (2011, Pittsburgh).
About the Panelists
Boris Valentinovich Volynov (former Russian Cosmonaut) flew on two Soviet space missions as part of the Soyuz program – Soyuz 5 (1969) and Soyuz 21 (1976). Volynov was the first Jewish cosmonaut and was a senior administrator at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.
Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu (former Romanian Cosmonaut) was the first Romanian in space and completed an eight-day space mission on Soyuz 40 and Salyut 6 space laboratory. He served as president of the Romanian Space Agency from 1998 – 2004. He has held several positions within the European Union and the United Nations.
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I recommend this panel discussion, even though Vladimir Ilyushin was allegedly the first Russian in space.
AND.....
It's a free admission day too!
Be there.