Marking the Past, Present and Future of Spaceflight: Yuri’s Night London 2025
On a sunny May evening, something magical happened at the iconic Arthur C. Clarke House in Vauxhall.
Yuri’s Night London 2025 was more than just a celebration — it was a convergence of memory, mission, and momentum. Held in partnership with the London Space Network (LSN) and the British Interplanetary Society (BIS), the event brought together voices from across the space sector to reflect on the legacy of human spaceflight and imagine what comes next.
This year’s event was particularly special for me. As the co-founder and current lead of the London Space Network, I’ve been thinking deeply about how we make space more accessible — not just technologically or commercially, but socially. How do we connect the dots between research, policy, entrepreneurship, and imagination? How do we inspire collaboration between those building the future and those dreaming it?
A Keynote That Left Us Starlit
We were honoured to hear from Dr Meganne Christian FRAeS, European Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut Reserve and Senior Exploration Manager — Commercial at the UK Space Agency. Meganne delivered an extraordinary keynote that left the room inspired as she demystified the selection process and shared insights from her expeditions.
Her journey — across disciplines, across continents, to Antarctica offered insights into astronaut selection, international collaboration, and what it means to prepare for the unknown. One moment in particular stayed with many of us: her poetic description of seeing the shadow of the Milky Way in moonlight from Antarctica. It was a reminder of the quiet majesty that motivates so much of our work in space.
A Panel That Took the Conversation Further
Following her keynote, I had the privilege of moderating a panel featuring Libby Jackson OBE FRAeS (Science Museum Group) and Jenna Rhodes-Tiwana (ispace, inc.), alongside Meganne. We explored some of the biggest questions facing the sector today:
- What does sustainable exploration really mean in the 2020s?
- How is the commercial space sector reshaping access to space?
- What role can the UK play in the global spaceflight agenda?
The questions from the audience were sharp and challenging — ranging from lunar resource extraction to governance and space law. But the dialogue didn’t stop with the panel. It continued in the corridors, over drinks, and throughout the vibrant networking that followed. These are the conversations that shape our sector’s future.
Bridging Past Roles with Present Purpose
This event felt particularly personal. During the pandemic years, I worked as a Senior Technical Programme Coordinator at DiRAC, supporting high-performance computing infrastructure for astrophysics. Today, through my role at SPAN (Space Academic Network) and the founding of Naaut, I advocate for academic engagement, community-building, and innovation in space.
Bringing all these strands together — technical, strategic, personal — into one evening reminded me why I do this work. Space isn’t just about rockets and payloads. It’s about people, possibilities, and purpose.
Special Thanks
To VNCCII (Samantha Tauber) — your acoustic set was electric. You reminded us that inspiration isn’t limited to lecture halls or labs. Creativity belongs at the table, too.
To BIS President Colin Philp — thank you for giving us the space (literally and metaphorically) to bring this event to life.
To Swetha Kotichintala and Simon Feast — thank you for your partnership, trust, and vision. Swetha, you led with passion and clarity, and it’s been a joy to co-create with you. Simon, thank you for holding so much of this together behind the scenes. I think we’ve bonded for life building out Yuri’s Night London.
Final Reflections
Yuri Gagarin’s first flight wasn’t just a victory of technology — it was a triumph of imagination. And this event felt like a continuation of that spirit: convening people from different backgrounds to think bigger, connect deeper, and imagine what’s next.
Thank you to everyone who made this evening possible. Let’s keep building the future of space — together.
