International Day of Human Space Flight 2024

Every year on April 12th, International Day of Human Space Flight is observed worldwide to celebrate a significant milestone in human history – the first successful space travel by a human being. This day remembers the remarkable achievement of Yuri Gagarin, who became the first human to journey into outer space on April 12th, 1961.

The Former country of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) decided to send a man to outer space in 1960. Twenty candidates were shortlisted, out of which Yuri Gagarin was one. Finally, Gagarin was selected as the ideal candidate, and he made the first space flight on this day, 63 years ago. Gagarin travelled in a spacecraft named Vostok 1. 

Gagarin’s journey to outer space opened the door for humanity to reach beyond our Earth and study the mysteries of outer space. On the 50th anniversary of this occasion, in 2011, the United Nations declared April 12th as the International Day of Human Space Flight. 

In 2024, the theme of this day is “Encourage Scientific Curiosity.” The theme highlights the importance of curiosity as a driving force for new discoveries. 

International Day of Human Space Flight celebrates the eager spirit of mankind in reaching the stars. After eight years of the first human space flight, the United States of America (USA) was able to send the first man to the moon- Neil Armstrong. India is currently preparing to send its first person to outer space by the year 2040. The historical event of Gagarin’s space flight paved the way for humans to conquer space.