An international day marking the first human spaceflight and celebrating space science's contribution to humanity.
Date12 April
TopicScience & Technology
Established2011
Ways to observe this day
Watch a documentary about the first human spaceflight with your kids
Visit a science museum or planetarium if one is nearby
Join a local "Yuri's Night" event if one is held in your area
Encourage kids to try a simple space-themed science activity
In April 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 65/271, designating April 12 as the International Day of Human Space Flight, commemorating the launch of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961, aboard Vostok 1, when he became the first human to orbit the Earth — an achievement that reshaped the course of human space exploration.
The day celebrates humanity's scientific and technological progress in space exploration, from the first steps on the Moon to the International Space Station and missions toward Mars and beyond. It also highlights how space technology serves daily life on Earth, from communications and satellites to weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster management.
Space agencies, science museums, and schools worldwide mark the day through the global "Yuri's Night" celebrations, along with lectures and hands-on workshops for children and young people, aiming to inspire new generations to pursue science, engineering, and space studies.