International Day of Human Space Flight

On April 12, International Day of Human Space Flight is celebrated in many corners of the globe as a reminder of the great feat of a man who went into the unknown aboard a spaceship and conquered outer space. On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin, a citizen of the Soviet Union, did just this.

The History

Vostok was a manned ship. It was a powerful scientific breakthrough made by talented Soviet engineers and designers. Gagarin spent 108 minutes in space, orbiting the Earth. This significant, unprecedented event was the first step towards space exploration. A decree on this celebration was signed by the leadership of the USSR in 1962. Later, man visited the Moon, and unmanned automatic vehicles were sent to many planets of the solar system. New era in international relations occurred in 2000. The International Space Station, which is manned by representatives of 15 states, received its first crew. The flight control centers were located in Russia and Texas, in the USA.

Interesting Facts

More than 550 people from 40 countries have visited space.

1. In April 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the establishment of an international holiday in honor of the 50th anniversary of first man’s first journey into space. Russia’s initiative was supported by 60 countries.
2. The crew on the space station consists of 6 people.
3. Team lives in space, making complete orbit around the Earth every 90 minutes, at a speed of 5 miles/second.

Space science helps us solve important global problems related to climate change and food security. This holiday is an important reminder of effective interstate cooperation.

When is International Day of Human Space Flight celebrated in 2024?

International Day of Human Space Flight is observed on April 12 each year.

Observations