When is Cosmonautics Day celebrated? World Aviation and Space Day
Why does this particular April day fall on Aviation and Cosmonautics Day? April 12, 1961 - this day forever entered the history of mankind. On a spring morning, a powerful launch vehicle launched into orbit the first spacecraft in history, VOSTOK, with the first cosmonaut of the Earth - citizen of the Soviet Union Yuri Gagarin on board. In 1 hour 48 minutes, Yuri Gagarin circled the globe and landed safely in the vicinity of the village of Smelovka, Ternovsky district Saratov region.
By decision of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) April 12 is World Aviation and Space Day. The holiday was established by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on April 9, 1962.
Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin
When else but on April 12, Aviation and Cosmonautics Day, should we pay special attention to the most famous Soviet cosmonaut - Yuri Garanin...
Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin was born on March 9, 1934 in the small village of Klushino, Smolensk region, into a family of collective farmers.
In 1941 he began studying at high school village of Klushino, but studies were interrupted by the war. In 1945, the family moved to Gzhatsk, where Yuri Gagarin graduated from six classes of high school.
The low earnings of his parents, who had six children, did not allow him to continue his education, so Gagarin decided to get a working specialty and then continue his studies.
Yuri Gagarin entered the Lyubertsy vocational school for the training of molders and foundry workers, from which he graduated with honors simultaneously with the school for working youth in 1951. In 1951 - 1955, Gagarin studied at the Saratov Industrial College, and in his final years in 1954 - 1955 he studied at the Saratov Aero Club. Drafted into the army, in 1955 - 1957 he became a cadet at the 1st Chkalov Military Aviation School, after which he served in the fighter aviation regiment of the Northern Fleet. After the flights of the first spacecraft, Gagagin submitted a report with a request to be included in the group of cosmonaut candidates and in 1960 was sent to Moscow. In 1960
Yuri Gagarin began preparing for a flight into space at the Cosmonaut Training Center. He worked hard, selflessly, with full dedication and endurance. And on April 12, 1961, at the moment of launch, Gagarin’s famous “let’s go!” sounded.
On April 12, 1961, in honor of which the holiday "Day of Aviation and Cosmonautics" was created, Yuri Gagarin launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the Vostok spacecraft, made the world's first space flight, spending 108 minutes in space and safely returning to Earth in the vicinity village of Smelovki, Ternovsky district, Saratov region, for which he was awarded the Star of the Soviet Hero. After the flight, Yuri Gagarin continuously improved his skills as a pilot-cosmonaut, and also took a direct part in the education and training of cosmonaut crews, in directing the flights of the Vostok, Voskhod, and Soyuz spacecraft.
Having paved the way for others into space, the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin rejoiced at the successes of his comrades, dreamed of new flights, prepared for them, and graduated from the Air Force Engineering Academy named after N. E. Zhukovsky (1961 - 1968). In 1964-68, deputy head of the Cosmonaut Training Center. Yuri Gagarin carried out extensive social and political work, being a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 6th and 7th convocations, a member of the Central Committee of the Komsomol (elected at the 14th and 15th congresses of the Komsomol), president of the Soviet-Cuban Friendship Society. With a mission of peace and friendship, Yuri Gagarin visited many countries. Gagarin was awarded a gold medal. K. E. Tsiolkovsky of the USSR Academy of Sciences, de Lavaux medal (FAI), gold medals and honorary diplomas of the international association (LIUS) “Man in Space” and the Italian Cosmonautics Association, gold medal “For outstanding distinction” and honorary diploma of the Royal Aero Club of Sweden, Bolshaya gold medal and diploma of the FAI, gold medal of the British Society for Interplanetary Communications, Galabert Prize in Astronautics. Since 1966, Yuri Gagarin has been an honorary member of the International Academy of Astronautics. He was awarded the Order of Lenin and medals of the USSR, as well as orders from many countries around the world. Yuri Gagarin was awarded the titles Hero of Socialist Labor of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, Hero of the People's Republic of Belarus, Hero of Labor of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Yuri Gagarin tragically died in a plane crash near the village of Novoselovo, Kirzhach district, Vladimir region. while performing a training flight on an airplane (together with pilot Seryogin).
In order to perpetuate the memory of Gagarin, the city of Gzhatsk and the Gzhatsky district of the Smolensk region. renamed respectively to the city of Gagarin and Gagarinsky district. The Air Force Academy in Monino was named after Gagarin. A scholarship was established. Yu. A. Gagarin for cadets of military aviation schools. The International Aeronautical Federation (FAI) established a medal named after. Yu. A. Gagarin. The USSR Cosmonaut Training Center, a research vessel of the USSR Academy of Sciences, is named after Gagarin. establishments, streets and squares of many cities around the world. In Moscow, Gagarin, Star City, Sofia - monuments to the astronaut; memorial house-museum in Gagarin. Gagarin was elected an honorary citizen of the cities of Kaluga, Novocherkassk, Sumgait, Smolensk, Vinnitsa, Sevastopol, Saratov (USSR), Sofia, Pernik (PRB), Athens (Greece), Famagusta, Limassol (Cyprus), Saint-Denis (France), Trencianske - Teplice (Czechoslovakia). A crater on the Moon is named after Gagarin. Urn with ashes in the Kremlin wall.
History of astronautics
On this important holiday for us, April 12, Aviation and Cosmonautics Day, I would like to say a few words about the history of astronautics in Russia.
The world's first theoretical justification for the possibility of space flight was given at the end of the 19th century by the Russian scientist K.E. Tsiolkovsky. The world's first Society for the Study of Interplanetary Communications was created by his students in 1924.
The first artificial Earth satellite was launched by Soviet scientists under the leadership of S.P. Queen 4 October 1657. The date of its launch is considered the beginning of the space age. Model of the first artificial satellite Earth is located in the United Nations.
The dog Laika was the first to fly into space. She spent several days on board the artificial satellite, but they could not return her to Earth. In August 1960, the dogs Belka and Strelka went on a space journey. There were also mice, insects and seeds on the ship. After the flight, the animals returned to their home planet and felt great.
The first human space flight took place on April 12, 1961, when the Vostok spacecraft carrying Yuri Gagarin took off into space.
“Before Gagarin’s flight, five test launches were carried out. They showed that space does not forgive the slightest inaccuracy: the first ship, having completed the program, did not obey the command to descend, moved to a new orbit and subsequently ceased to exist. The second launch was successful. But at the end of 1960, on the third launch of the Vostok-type spacecraft, there was another failure: the device burned out during its return... Yuri took a risk, the price of which could have been his life...” (pilot-cosmonaut V. Shatalov).
The world's first female cosmonaut, Valentina Tereshkova, took off into space on the Vostok-6 spacecraft on June 16, 1963.
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A holiday inextricably linked with the history of our country and world history. It was on April 12, already distant 1961, that an event took place that became the starting point of the era of human space exploration: cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin entered low-Earth orbit on the Vostok spacecraft and flew around the planet. The whole world watched his 108 minutes of flight with bated breath.
The significance of this day is difficult to overestimate. Gagarin's flight became not just a symbol of man's overcoming gravity. He opened a wide road for further space exploration. Those “mountains of bread” and that “abyss of power” that Tsiolkovsky spoke about became a reality, although before that they were classified as fantasy.
Modern world states are engaged in an unspoken rivalry over who is considered the world's space power. Information regularly appears in news feeds, television and radio broadcasts about more and more new space explorers. And recently, such “exotic” as space tourism has become very popular: the richest people on the planet and the “stars” of the pop scene are ready to pay big money to experience the state of weightlessness and see with their own eyes a small blue ball through the window - our common home .
Attitudes towards the cosmonaut profession have changed somewhat today. If previously every Soviet boy dreamed of this profession, now professions related to society, politics and economics are at the peak of popularity. Modern children dream of becoming PR specialists and bankers, but they are also fascinated by the footage captured by spaceships and satellites. Even those who seriously take up mastering a complex profession, for the most part remain on Earth, and only a few who pass all physical and psychological tests with dignity get into space. But Cosmonautics Day is of great importance both for the state as a whole and for every citizen. After all, space exploration has given us such benefits as satellite television and satellite communications, ultra-precise weather forecasts, and navigation capabilities.
The holiday appeared in Soviet calendars a year after the famous flight: April 9, 1962. It is noteworthy that in this matter the USSR was ahead of its closest competitors: World Aviation and Cosmonautics Day was established only in 1968. Subsequently, many others were added to these “first steps” of ours: for example, Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to fly in space. Our compatriots also went into outer space for the first time. So Cosmonautics Day can be considered a truly national holiday.
Nowadays, people fly on airplanes all over the globe (as we say, all over the world), and in all sorts of directions. Now the word “space” will not surprise anyone. The flights of astronauts to the orbital station are perceived with complete calm, as if it had always been this way. Space exploration is now a big industry and there are a lot of people working there.
April 12 is called Cosmonautics Day. This day is forever associated with the name of the Russian pilot, born in the city of Gzhatsk, Smolensk region, Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin.
On April 12, 1961, pilot Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin flew in near-Earth space on the Vostok spacecraft.
In the country of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - now we are only part of that state and have become Russia), the Vostok launch vehicle was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome with the Vostok ship, on board of which was Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin. Climbing aboard Y.A. Gagarin said the word “Let's go!”, which later became famous. After 108 minutes of flight in space, Yu.A. Gagarin landed in the Saratov region near the city of Engels.
This event happened for the first time in the world. This was the first and only person among our millions who made a space flight!
This was a grandiose event not only for people working in the development of astronautics. In the country at that time, it’s not that people didn’t have computers or televisions. But there was radio, cinema, newspapers were published.
The event shook the entire huge country.
People in cities and villages read, watched how Yu.A. After the flight, Gagarin, already in Moscow, to the sounds of the melody “We were born to make a fairy tale come true...” from the plane to the government podium, he walked along the red carpet with a report to the head of state N.S. Khrushchev.
Then, on Red Square, N.S. Khrushchev announced the assignment of Yu.A. Gagarin the title of Hero of the Soviet Union and “Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR”.
There was a human demonstration for several hours. Jubilant people walked with posters, slogans, and greetings to the first cosmonaut.
People looked at their hero with delight. He was not some kind of fictional, cinematic one, but real, with a kind smile - a real hero of our time. People named boys who were born after him - in those years the name Yura was the most common among the names used to call boys. Growing up, they dreamed of becoming cosmonauts, like Yuri Gagarin.
Yu.A. After the flight, Gagarin visited about 30 countries by invitation and toured his own country. Graduated from the Academy. Zhukovsky and was preparing for a new flight into space.
On March 27, 1968, Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin died while performing a training flight on a MiG-15UTI aircraft under the guidance of an experienced instructor V.S. Seryogin. In connection with the death of the first cosmonaut Yu.A. Gagarin, national mourning was declared in the country (for the first time for a person who was not the head of state). So the silent question remained: Why didn’t they save it? Why was there another plane in the training flight area? We won't know about it.
The bright image of a real hero remained in people's memory. The whole world knew the pilot-cosmonaut, Hero of the Soviet Union, Cavalier of the highest insignia, citizen of many states, Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin.
Since 1968, Cosmonautics Day has received worldwide recognition. This day marks World Aviation and Space Day.
On April 7, 2011, at a plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly, a resolution was adopted proclaiming April 12 as the International Day of Human Space Flight.
The city of Gzhatsk became the city of Gagarin. There is a joint memorial house-museum there.
In many cities around the world, in honor of the first cosmonaut of the Earth, Yu.A. Gagarin's streets and avenues were named, and many monuments were erected.
American astronauts left commemorative medals on the moon, one of which depicts Yu.A. Gagarin.
In many cities around the world, since 2001, a party has been held - the event "St. George's Night" with the aim of increasing interest in space exploration.
Monument to Yu.A. Gagarin opened in Greenwich in May 2013.
Name Yu.A. Gagarin wears the Cosmonaut Training Center.
In cosmonautics, the Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin Gold Medal is awarded to cosmonauts and astronauts for their contribution to space exploration.
On this day, April 12, raise your head and look at the sky. On this day, man flew into space for the first time in history.
After flying around the globe, 108 minutes from the moment of launch, the braking propulsion system was turned on and the spacecraft-satellite began to descend from orbit for landing. At 10:55 a.m. Moscow time, the cosmonaut landed in a given area on arable land near the bank of the Volga near the village of Smelovka, Ternovsky district, Saratov region.
The initiative to establish Cosmonautics Day in the Soviet Union was taken by Yuri Gagarin’s backup during the first manned space flight, pilot-cosmonaut German Titov. He also proposed, on behalf of the USSR government, to approach the UN with the idea of organizing World Cosmonautics Day.
In November 1968, at the 61st General Conference of the International Aeronautical Federation, it was decided to celebrate April 12 as World Aviation and Space Day. The celebration of this day was confirmed by the decision of the Council of the International Aeronautical Federation, adopted on April 30, 1969, on the proposal of the USSR Aviation Sports Federation.
IN Russian Federation Cosmonautics Day was established as a memorable date by Article 1.1 of the Federal Law of March 13, 1995 “On Days of Military Glory and Memorable Dates of Russia.”
In September 2000, the UN Space Committee announced the holding of the first international Yuri's Night in honor of the 40th anniversary of the first manned flight into space, which was attended by more than 100 thousand people in 75 countries in 2001. Organized by annual event is the Space Generation Advisory Council.
On April 7, 2011, at the initiative of Russia, the UN General Assembly proclaimed April 12 as the International Day of Human Space Flight to mark the 50th anniversary of the first step in space exploration made by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. More than 60 UN member countries became co-sponsors of this resolution.
In the years since Yuri Gagarin's first flight, many people have been in space.
On August 6, 1961, the Vostok-2 spacecraft launched with cosmonaut German Titov on board. His flight lasted more than a day. On August 11 and 12, 1962, Andriyan Nikolaev and Pavel Popovich launched on the Vostok-3 and Vostok-4 spacecraft, and on June 16, 1963, the first female cosmonaut, Valentina Tereshkova, launched.
The next step in the development of domestic cosmonautics was the creation in 1964 of the multi-seat Voskhod spacecraft. The crew of this ship was located in the descent module without spacesuits.
On March 18, 1965, the Voskhod-2 spacecraft was launched, in the design of which improvements were made related to the astronaut’s spacewalk, in particular, a folding airlock chamber and an airlock system were created. During this flight, cosmonaut Alexei Leonov walked into outer space for the first time in the world. The time he spent outside the ship was 12 minutes.
In January 1969, during the flight of the Soyuz-4 and Soyuz-5 spacecraft, an experimental orbital station was created for the first time, which became an important step towards the emergence of long-term space expeditions. The flight program included the automatic rendezvous of the two ships, manual mooring and docking, spacewalk and the transfer of cosmonauts Alexei Eliseev and Evgeniy Khrunov to Soyuz-4 with subsequent descent in this ship.
On July 21, 1969, man set foot on the surface of the Moon for the first time. This man was Neil Armstrong, commander of the American spacecraft Apollo 11.
On April 19, 1971, the first multi-purpose Salyut station was launched into low-Earth orbit. On April 23, 1971, the Soyuz-10 spacecraft with its crew was sent to Salyut.
In 1975, the joint experimental flight of the Soyuz and Apollo spacecraft marked the beginning of the development international cooperation in the field of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.
In February 1986, the base unit of the Mir orbital complex was launched into orbit. During the operation of the complex, the technology for medical and biological support of long-term human flights in space was developed and absolute world records were set for the duration of continuous human stay in space flight conditions: Vladimir Titov and Musa Manarov - 366 days, Valery Polyakov - 438 days. The longest flights among women were made by Elena Kondakova in 1994-1995, lasting 169 days, and Shannon Lucid (USA) in March-September 1996, lasting 188 days.
A huge amount of experiments and research was carried out on Mir in all traditional areas of manned space exploration, several large international programs. In total, 104 people from 12 countries visited the Mir station, including: the USA, France, Germany, Syria, Japan, Great Britain, Austria, and Canada.
The duration of the cosmonauts' continuous stay on board the Mir station was 3641 days. The Mir station was in the Pacific Ocean on March 23, 2001.
In November 1998, the launch of the Zarya functional cargo block module, created at the State Space Research and Production Center named after M.V. Khrunichev, began the creation of the International Space Station (ISS) in low-Earth orbit. On November 2, 2000, the crew of the first main expedition under the command of William Shepherd (USA) arrived at the ISS on the Soyuz TM-31 spacecraft. From that day on, the ISS became a permanently inhabited station. The crews of the main expeditions, which included Russian cosmonauts and American astronauts, began working on board, replacing each other, for several months at a time.
In February 2013, Dennis Tito, an Italian-American and CEO of the investment company Wilshire Associates, who became the first space tourist on board the ISS in 2001, announced the creation of the Inspiration Mars Foundation, which plans to launch in 2018.
The material was prepared based on information from RIA Novosti and open sources
Audio fragments provided by Federal State Unitary Enterprise "Firm Melodiya":
"You know what kind of guy he was." Performed by Yuri Gulyaev, 1971
"I believe, friends." Performed by Georg Ots, 1962
"Grass near the house." Performed by VIA "Zemlyane" soloist Sergei Skachkov, 1983
"In the distant constellation Tau Ceti." Performed by Vladimir Vysotsky. 1967
For more than fifty years, every year, on April 12, residents of the whole world celebrate, the history of which dates back to the existence of the great USSR.
The holiday of everyone who is in some way connected with the space industry was first celebrated in 1962, and is still considered one of the most important among other international holidays. Our article is dedicated to this significant day, which the whole planet remembers and talks about.
History of Cosmonautics and Aviation Day
On April 9, 1962, members of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued a Decree establishing Cosmonautics Day. Soon, in 1968, the International Aeronautical Federation gave this holiday international status.
It all started when, in 1961, a citizen of the Soviet Union, Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin, being a pilot spaceship“Vostok” became the first who was not afraid to fly into space. Having orbited the globe for 108 minutes, the Soviet discoverer began a new era of space flights with a man on board.
However, it must be said that the beginning of the history of the Cosmonautics Day holiday was also laid by the famous dogs Belka and Strelka, who had previously visited the expanses of weightlessness, without which a person’s flight to another space would have been at great risk.
After such a breakthrough in space exploration, Yuri Gagarin received the early rank of major and at the same time Hero of the USSR. Since then, scientists, politicians, musicians and artists all over the world have dreamed of meeting a man who saw the Earth with his own eyes from a height of hundreds of kilometers. Gagarin also opened new horizons for designers and fashion designers from the 60s, who introduced on this wave, reflecting the general fashion trends of that time.
Thanks to the feat of Yuri Gagarin, Cosmonautics Day is celebrated today with respect and honor for those who have made a significant contribution to the development of modern space technologies, without which we can no longer imagine our lives. Museums and monuments are opened in their honor, and ceremonial events are held.