50 years after Gagarin’s historic flight, UN salutes ideals of peaceful space exploration

United Nations, New York, 12 April 2011 - The United Nations today celebrated the first annual International Day of Human Space Flight, marking 50 years since Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin made history by becoming the first human to travel into outer space. “Yuri Gagarin’s flight is an inspiration that engenders a quest for excellence; an inspiration that fans the flames of passion to pursue a dream, especially among the young. There is no higher value you can place on his achievement,“ said Mazlan Othman, Director of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). Full story: space&Cr1=