International Day remembers space pioneer Yuri Gagarin


Inspirational messages from space explorers to future generations are being shared this Tuesday, 12 April.

The day marks 55 years since Yuri Gagarin from the then Soviet Union became the first person to travel to outer space.

The International Day of Human Space Flight also reaffirms the important contribution of space science and technology in increasing the well-being of the world's people.

The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs has compiled the messages from astronauts from 20 countries in an "autograph album" that is available online and in all six UN official languages.

It also features a copy of Mr Gagarin's autograph which was taken during a visit he made to UN headquarters in October 1963 where he spoke to the press about the need to keep outer space a nuclear-free zone: "The ban on nuclear tests in space and on launching into space objects carrying nuclear weapons would eliminate the danger of radiation and, as a result, threats to space flights. If nuclear weapons make their way into space, Damocles’ sword will hang over mankind, ready to strike at any minute."


SOURCE: UN Radio