World celebrates International Day of Human Space Flight

On April 12, the world observes the International Day of Human Space Flight, a day dedicated to the history and future of space exploration.

This date commemorates the monumental journey of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who became the first human to orbit Earth in 1961.

Exactly 20 years later, the launch of NASA's first Space Shuttle, Columbia, further cemented this date in history.

In 2011, the United Nations officially declared this day a global observance to honor the start of the space era.

Today, we move beyond the competition of the past, with global collaboration on the International Space Station showing how space brings humanity together.

Whether through formal conferences or the popular grassroots celebrations known as Yuri's Night, people around the world gather to celebrate human curiosity.