International Day of Human Space Flight observed globally

Kathmandu. Commemorating the dawn of the space age in human civilization, the International Day of Human Space Flight is being celebrated today across various countries with diverse programs.

On April 7, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring April 12 as the International Day of Human Space Flight.

This day emphasizes the contribution of space science and technology, focusing on achieving development goals through sustainable technology and improving the standard of living for people.

On April 12, 1961, Soviet citizen Yuri Gagarin completed the first human space flight. His achievement as the first human to orbit the Earth is considered the beginning of a new era in space exploration.

Prior to that, on October 4, 1957, the first human-made Earth satellite, 'Sputnik-1', was launched into space, paving the way for space exploration. Significant achievements in human space travel have been made in the decades since.

On June 16, 1963, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to reach space, while on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong made history as the first human to set foot on the lunar surface. On July 17, 1975, the first planned international human space mission was successfully conducted by docking the Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft.

The United Nations has stated that space exploration and its utilization are the common heritage of mankind, emphasizing that the benefits should be accessible to all nations.