International Day of Human Space Flight

International Day of Human Space Flight History

International Day of Human Space Flight serves as a platform for raising global awareness about the benefits of space activities and advocates for greater investment in these endeavours. Emphasis is placed on educational activities, scientific understanding, and technological improvements resulting from space flights.

The genesis of this observance roots back to 12th April 1961, when Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet astronaut, accomplished the first human space flight. This groundbreaking event had profound impacts worldwide, including the United Kingdom, and paved the way for future space exploration. Famous UK astronaut, Tim Peake, followed in Gagarin’s footsteps, as Peake carried out groundbreaking scientific research on the International Space Station in 2015. Moreover, the British space industry has recently been growing significantly, directly employing around 42,000 people and generating an income of £14.8 billion annually.

International Day of Human Space Flight is celebrated in various ways in the United Kingdom. Science centres, planetariums, and schools engage the public through workshops, exhibits, and lectures about space exploration and technology. International Day of Human Space is celebrated on 12th April each year, allowing the UK to showcase its advancements and commitments towards space science and technology while inspiring the next generation of space enthusiasts.

Facts about International Day of Human Space Flight

• The first manned mission to land on the moon was Apollo 11. The mission was successfully completed on July 20, 1969 by astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. They became the first humans in history to step on another planetary body.
• NASA’s Artemis program hopes to land the first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024. They hope to work with commercial and international partners to establish sustainable exploration of the moon. Their goal after that is to send astronauts to Mars.
• A full NASA space suit costs $12,000,000. About 70% of the cost is for the backpack and control module.
• The UK Space Agency has set out ambitious plans for the UK to hold a greater share of the commercial spaceflight market, worth an estimated £3.8 billion globally over the next decade. This includes the creation of new spaceports across the country.
• Helen Sharman was the first Briton in space. She went to the Mir space station in 1991, but her journey was sponsored by a private company and the Soviet Union, not the UK government.

In the News and Trending in the UK for International Day of Human Space Flight

Top things to do in the UK for this observance

• Learn more about NASA's Artemis program and how they plan to return to the moon.
• Learn more about the United Nation's Voyager Golden Record message that was sent into space in 1977.
• Watch a documentary to learn more about Human Space Flight:
  For All Mankind - An American documentary film covering the United States' manned missions to the Moon.
  The Farthest: Voyager in Space - A documentary telling the story of the Voyager spacecrafts.
• Attend a Lecture or Event at the Royal Observatory: The Royal Observatory in Greenwich might host special events or exhibits in honor of this day. This location is a popular tourist attraction and also home to the Prime Meridian Line.