International Day of Human Spaceflight

International Day of Human Spaceflight set for 12 April by The General Assembly of United Nations (resolution A/RES/65/271 of 7 April 2011). 

The International Day of Human Space Flight is “to celebrate each year at the international level the beginning of the space era for mankind, reaffirming the important contribution of space science and technology in achieving sustainable development goals and increasing the well-being of States and peoples, as well as ensuring the realization of their aspiration to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes.”

12 April 1961 was the date of the first human space flight, carried out by Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet citizen. This historic event opened the way for space exploration for the benefit of all humanity.