On 12 April 1961 Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet citizen, became the first human to breach the cosmos. Humanity has taken many steps forward since, take some time to learn about a past or future space project, or just look up in awe. Via United Nations:

On 4 October 1957 the first human-made Earth satellite Sputnik I was launched into outer space, thus opening the way for space exploration. On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth, opening a new chapter of human endeavour in outer space.

The Declaration further recalls “the amazing history of human presence in outer space and the remarkable achievements since the first human spaceflight, in particular Valentina Tereshkova becoming the first woman to orbit the Earth on 16 June 1963, Neil Armstrong becoming the first human to set foot upon the surface of the Moon on 20 July 1969, and the docking of the Apollo and Soyuz spacecrafts on 17 July 1975, being the first international human mission in space, and recall that for the past decade humanity has maintained a multinational permanent human presence in outer space aboard the International Space Station.”

Learn more From the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs

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Apparently there are also global parties happening in honor of Yuris Night? Yuri’s Night is the World Space Party. Every year on or around April 12th we celebrate all that humanity brings with us as we explore the cosmos.

If you are attending why not flex with a NeoPixel laden Space Helmet from the Ruiz Brothers and the Adafruit Learning System. It’ll be sure to take any part to the next galaxy.