April 12 is Human Spaceflight
April 12 is Human Spaceflight Day, marking the historic flight of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to travel into space. In 1961, the Soviet cosmonaut completed an orbit around the Earth aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft, a milestone in space exploration.
The day was established by the United Nations in 2011 to recognize the importance of space exploration for science, technology and world peace. Gagarin's flight not only ushered in the space age, but also symbolized the power of international cooperation in advancing human knowledge.
The day is celebrated with events at space museums, universities and research centers, as well as promotions aimed at encouraging new generations to pursue careers in science and technology. The day also highlights the achievements of space agencies such as NASA, ESA and Roscosmos, and their ongoing efforts to push the boundaries of human exploration in space.
Did you know??