Yuri Gagarin’s historic entry into the outer space 58 years ago was the first human travel outside the earth’s atmosphere to explore the outer space. This historic event opened a plethora of opportunities for the future space missions. In honour of this first successful human space flight the United Nations, in 2011, declared April 12 as the International Day of Human Space Flight. On this occasion, we bring to you a few facts about the International Day of Human Space Flight.
The International Day of Human Space Flight marks 58 years since the humans entered the space.
The International Day of Human Space Flight is an important day for all space enthusiasts, scientists, astronomers and researchers in the world.
It was in the year 1961 on April 12 Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut had carried out the first human space flight.
Gagarin crewed Vostok 1 space flight which made one orbit around the Earth over 108 minutes.
The flight lasted for one hour 48 minutes (in total 108 minutes). However, during the time on the orbit, Gagarin stayed in touch with the Earth, and observed through the luminaires, and also controlled the spacecraft system functioning.
After one circle around the orbit, the re-entry module landed in the Saratov region, on the USSR territory. When “Vostok” was several kilometres from the ground, the astronaut was ejected and landed via parachute near the re-entry module.
Gagarin became an international celebrity and was awarded many medals and titles, including Hero of the Soviet Union, the nation’s highest honour.
In a months’ time, the first suborbital flight of an American astronaut Alan Shepard occurred. After many years, “Vostok 3” — the first multiple person spaceflight and “Vostok 4” — the first American orbital flight of John Glenn, who flew around the Earth three times, took place.
Gagarin later served as the deputy training director of the Cosmonaut Training Centre outside Moscow, which was subsequently named after him.
Gagarin died in 1968 when the MiG-15 training jet he was piloting crashed.
April 12 is also commemorated as Cosmonautics Day since 1963.
In 1981, Gagarin’s efforts were memoralised by making a statue of him near Saratov in Russia.
Nowadays, the space missions have gone on full swing and the scientists are working very hard on the first spacecraft launch to the Mars.
United Nations also promotes this day with photo exhibits and technological conferences.
This day aims to promote more explorations in the space for peaceful purposes in the near future.