An Afternoon of Gaming, Exploration, and Cosmic Fun
Join us on Sunday, April 12, 2026, from 1:00–6:00 PM at the Challenger Learning Center of Maine for an epic celebration of space, strategy, and stellar fun. This special event is part of Yuri’s Night, the worldwide party honoring the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin, and the launch of the first Space Shuttle program.
We’re building a galaxy-sized collection of space-themed tabletop games, from planetary conquests to rocket-fueled adventures, and we’d love your help!
Have a space-related game you can bring? Sign up to share it and help facilitate gameplay by teaching and playing alongside participants. Whether you’re a seasoned game master or just love a good cosmic challenge, your energy will help make the event stellar.
Please submit your games by Monday, March 16 so we can plan our mission lineup.
What’s the gameplan? Pun Intended…
Our Yuri’s Night celebration at the Challenger Learning Center of Maine is shaping up to be an out of-this world afternoon of strategy, storytelling, and space themed fun!
We’ll be hosting a live roleplaying session of Traveller alongside multiple space themed board game stations running throughout the event. Featured games will be offered in rotating 2-hour sessions during our 5-hour celebration, giving you plenty of chances to jump into an epic adventure.
Short on time? Swing by our drop-in game station, where you’ll find a selection of space-inspired games that take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to play, perfect for casual explorers and seasoned strategists alike.
Interested in miniature tabletop gaming? We have the ability to add a miniatures-based experience if there’s enough interest. We’re also open to hosting additional roleplaying sessions beyond Traveller to expand the galaxy of possibilities!
Whether you’re a veteran spacefarer or brand new to tabletop adventures, there will be something for everyone at Yuri’s Night.
Planned Games and Activities
so far…
Traveller (classic)
Traveller is a premier science fiction tabletop RPG focusing on space exploration, interstellar trade, and combat within the human-dominated Third Imperium. Known for its realistic, high-stakes sandbox gameplay, it uses a skill-based system and 2d6 mechanics. Characters are defined by career lifepaths rather than levels.
Terraforming Mars
Terraforming Mars is a 1–5 player competitive engine-building game where players manage corporations to make Mars habitable. Over several rounds ("generations"), players use resources to play project cards, increase global parameters (temperature, oxygen, oceans), and build cities/forests to earn the highest terraforming rating and victory.
Star Trek Adventures RPG - The Celestial Algorithm
Star Trek Adventures is a cooperative tabletop role-playing game set in the universe of Star Trek. Players take on the roles of Starfleet officers serving aboard a starship, working together to complete missions involving exploration, diplomacy, and scientific discovery. Using the game’s 2d20 system, players attempt tasks, overcome challenges, and make story-driven decisions as they investigate mysteries like those found in the starter scenario “The Celestial Algorithm.”
Merchant of Venus
Merchant of Venus is a board game set in an unexplored part of the galaxy during a reawakening of galactic civilization. Players move around the board as traders discovering long forgotten pockets of civilization and buying and selling goods. The game can be played by 1 - 6 players. The aim of the game is to acquire a set amount of wealth ($1000, $2000, $3000 or $4000). The first player to hold the required amount in cash and deeds is declared the winner.
Questions? Reach out anytime at contact@astronaut.org
Cost: Free!
Age: 13 and up!
Date: Sunday April 12th
Time: 1:00PM - 6:00PM
Location: Challenger Maine, 30 Venture Way, Bangor ME