International Day of Human Space Flight and Cosmonautics Day

We say that we live in space age. But do we  know that the space age has a special commemorative day of observance? The day is observed as International Day of Human Space Flight. It is one of the UN international observances. Further, April 12 is World Aviation and Cosmonautics Day and is observed in many countries around the world, mostly in former Soviet Union states and Russia. Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first human to fly in to space on April 12, 1961. He flew into space in  Vostok 1 spacecraft from Baikonur Cosmodrome. He was in space for 1 hour and 48 minutes. Gagarin's space flight was a remarkable success in the Soviet space program. It started a new frontier in the history of space missions. Gagarin was regarded as a national hero of the Soviet Union. Presently, a ceremony on Cosmonautics Day starts near Gagarin's statue in the city of Korolyov. On April 12,Yuri's Night is celebrated in various countries in Yuri Gagarin’s honour.