{"674444":{"#nid":"674444","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Space Research Initiative Hosts Yuri\u2019s Day Symposium ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EApril 12 is a significant date in the history of exploration, as it marks the first space flight of a human, Yuri Gagarin, in 1961. This year on April 12, the Georgia Tech Space Research Initiative (Space RI) hosted an event highlighting the Institute\u2019s interdisciplinary space research. The \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/yuris-day-symposium\u0022\u003EYuri\u2019s Day Symposium\u003C\/a\u003E was Space RI\u2019s first public event.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EA multidisciplinary initiative, the Space RI brings together faculty, researchers, and students from across campus who share a passion for space exploration. Their combined research explores a broad array of space-related topics, all considered from a human perspective.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cLaunching Georgia Tech\u2019s Space Research Initiative reinforces our commitment to advancing our understanding of space and our universe,\u201d said Executive Vice President for Research Chaouki Abdallah. \u201cIt is also a testament to Georgia Tech\u0027s unwavering dedication to pushing the limits of what is possible and to fostering innovations that benefit humankind.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe symposium was organized by Glenn Lightsey, interim executive director of the Space RI, and the Space RI steering committee, which consists of representatives from the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and the Colleges of Engineering, Computing, and Sciences, the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, and the Scheller College of Business. The day began with remarks from Research leadership and an overview of the Space RI and its mission. \u201cThis is an exciting time for space exploration at Georgia Tech and across the world,\u201d Lightsey said. \u201cSpace research is a critical part of solving our world\u2019s most challenging problems and improving life for everyone on Earth.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESpace research and exploration yield many societal benefits that \u003Ca\u003Eimprove \u003C\/a\u003Elife on Earth and even foster economic growth. These advances include rapidly evolving technologies, improvements in medicine, and the development of enhanced materials \u2014 such as self-healing materials and those designed for extreme environments. Additionally, space research provides essential tools, data, and insights for climate scientists.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESessions and panels throughout the day covered space science, space media, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/moontomarsarchitecture\/\u0022\u003ENASA\u2019s Moon to Mars program\u003C\/a\u003E, GTRI\u2019s space research program, commercial space initiatives, and space in popular culture. A.C. Charania, NASA\u2019s chief technologist and a Georgia Tech alumnus, delivered the keynote address. He shared insights into his work at NASA and Moon to Mars.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFollowing the symposium, the Space RI hosted a \u201cstar party\u201d at the Georgia Tech Observatory. People of all ages gathered at the event, where they could use the observatory\u2019s telescope to observe the moon, Jupiter, and the Orion Nebula, an immense cloud of dust and gas from which new stars are born.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt was a clear night, and we were able to view the lunar terminator \u2014 the boundary where the sun is setting on the moon \u2014 which accentuates craters and mountains,\u201d said Lightsey. \u201cIt was exciting to officially launch our initiative on a day when the world celebrated space exploration and the star party was a fantastic way to end our event.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca\u003EIn July 2025, the Space RI will transition into one of Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/interdisciplinary-research-institutes\u0022\u003EInterdisciplinary Research Institutes\u003C\/a\u003E. Learn more about the initiative at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/space.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003Espace.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/eepurl.com\/iI4YQY\u0022\u003ESign up\u003C\/a\u003E to receive space news and event updates from the Space RI.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe event brought together faculty, researchers, and students to celebrate the Institute\u2019s interdisciplinary space research.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The event brought together faculty, researchers, and students to celebrate the Institute\u2019s interdisciplinary space research."}],"uid":"34760","created_gmt":"2024-04-30 16:23:10","changed_gmt":"2024-05-01 20:11:41","author":"Laurie Haigh","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-04-30T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-04-30T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"673892":{"id":"673892","type":"image","title":"Space Research Photo","body":null,"created":"1714494546","gmt_created":"2024-04-30 16:29:06","changed":"1714498807","gmt_changed":"2024-04-30 17:40:07","alt":"Panelists discussing space-themed art","file":{"fid":"257344","name":"IMG_0508.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/30\/IMG_0508.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/30\/IMG_0508.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1584229,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/04\/30\/IMG_0508.jpeg?itok=C6rRUbsr"}}},"media_ids":["673892"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/feature\/space-research?utm_source=coe_homepage\u0026utm_medium=web\u0026utm_campaign=newsfeed","title":"New Multidisciplinary Initiative Marks Golden Age for Space Research"}],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"},{"id":"364801","name":"School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS)"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"}],"categories":[{"id":"136","name":"Aerospace"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"192252","name":"cos-planetary"},{"id":"193266","name":"cos-research"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193657","name":"Space Research Initiative"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto: laurie.haigh@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003ELaurie Haigh\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nResearch Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}