Cosmonautics Day is one of the few memorable dates in the history of mankind, the appearance of which is not associated with wars, cataclysms or bloodshed. On this day, the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin for the first time ventured into space flight. When is the holiday celebrated cosmonautics day and what is interesting about the flight of the astronaut? We will talk about this in our article.
history of the holiday
Famous around the world, our compatriot - an astronaut named Yuri Gagarin, was the first to decide to go into space. This memorable event took place in 1961 in the month of April. Cosmonautics Day since then, by decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, has become an official holiday, which since 1962 has been annually celebrated on the 12th.
Mass celebrations take place on the territory of Russia, congratulations are addressed to the cosmonauts of the state, and they also honor the memory of the great man who carried out the first space flight. Cosmonautics Day is not so solemn in Ukraine. However, they do not forget about him.
April 12 - Cosmonautics Day
Almost 57 years ago, the whole world was shocked by the TASS news, which reported that the Vostok spacecraft, piloted by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, was successfully launched from the territory of the Soviet Union. The ship launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and was the first in the history of mankind to fly around the planet Earth, which lasted almost 2 hours. Thus, the flight of a citizen of the Soviet Union proved that a person can exist and is in space. Thanks to Yuri Gagarin, a new profession appeared on the planet - an astronaut.
7 years later, the national Cosmonautics Day gained official world recognition, and according to the decision of the Council of the International Aviation Federation, it became known as World Aviation and Space Day.
Exploring the universe
After the flight of the first astronaut, during each subsequent launch into space, space exploration was carried out. The astronauts tried to master more serious space technology, there was an expansion of the program of scientific and technical research, lengthened the duration of flights and the time spent in space.
4 years after the first manned flight into space, in March 1965, astronaut A. Leonov, wearing a special spacesuit, left the ship and ended up in open space. His walk in space lasted about 20 minutes.
Astronauts from the United States of America 4 years later, in 1969, flew to the moon, where the crew landed on the surface. Also, in the mid-70s of the last century, direct cooperation between cosmonauts of various states in outer space began to actively develop.
Nowadays, significant advances in space technology are noticeable: a huge number of satellites revolve around the Earth, spacecraft landed on the Moon, Venus and Mars. Some of them have left the limits of the Solar System, and carry messages to other intelligent life forms. Mars rovers move on the surface of Mars. Space researchers make fantastic discoveries using various multifunctional radio telescopes in orbit.
April 2011
On April 12, 1981, for the first time, under a US program called the Space Shuttle, a manned flight was completed.
50 years later, after the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin made his first space flight, during a special plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly, it was decided to adopt a resolution in which April 12 became officially considered International Human Space Day. The decision to adopt this resolution was made by about 60 countries.
In connection with these events, starting in 2001, many cities around the world hold an event party called St. George's Night. The initiator of this event is the non-governmental unit of the Space Generation Advisory Council, which brings together about 60 states from around the world.
Holiday
The party event called St. George's Night is the night version of Cosmonautics Day for those who wish to celebrate the holiday. As part of the memorable event, ceremonies are held around the world that vary in direction and scale. These include thematic exhibitions, scientific seminars, various quizzes and experiments.
For young people who love parties and parties, the owners of nightclubs are trying to hold a grand show program. On this night, most cinemas broadcast pictures that are associated with the first flight into orbit.
Visiting the thematic site dedicated to the passage of "St. George's Night", you can see the poster of the entertainment and various events. So everyone can become the initiator of the celebration in their hometown - without any prohibitions.