When is International Day of Human Space Flight?
International Day of Human Space Flight 2027 is on Monday
Monday, April 12, 2027
April 12 every year. That's in 190 days.
until International Day of Human Space Flight begins, in your time zone
The International Day of Human Space Flight is a UN observance marking the start of the human space age, when Yuri Gagarin became the first person to orbit Earth in 1961. It celebrates space exploration and the goal of keeping outer space peaceful.
About International Day of Human Space Flight
On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited Earth aboard Vostok 1, becoming the first human in space. The date gained a second milestone exactly 20 years later, when NASA launched the first space shuttle mission, STS-1, with astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen aboard Columbia on April 12, 1981. The day is a chance to look back at more than six decades of crewed flight and ahead to the missions still to come.
The UN General Assembly declared April 12 the International Day of Human Space Flight in resolution 65/271, adopted on April 7, 2011, days before the 50th anniversary of Gagarin's flight. The resolution calls for celebrating the beginning of the space era for humanity each year and stresses the role of space science and technology in sustainable development and in keeping outer space for peaceful purposes. The UN also highlights later firsts, including Valentina Tereshkova becoming the first woman to orbit Earth in 1963, Neil Armstrong's first steps on the Moon in 1969 and the Apollo-Soyuz docking of 1975, the first international crewed mission.
The UN day builds on older traditions. The Soviet Union established Cosmonautics Day on April 12 by a decree in 1962, and Russia still celebrates it. Since 2001, Yuri's Night, created by Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides and George Whitesides, has brought space fans together for parties, talks and public events around the world on or near the same date.
Sources: United Nations: International Day of Human Space Flight, NASA: 40 Years Ago, Columbia Takes Flight, Presidential Library of Russia: Russia celebrates Cosmonautics Day, The Planetary Society: Yuri's Night 2026. How we check dates.
How to mark International Day of Human Space Flight
- Read a reliable account of Gagarin's flight or watch archive footage of the launch, then compare it with how crews reach orbit today.
- Look for a Yuri's Night event or a space-themed evening at a planetarium, science center or astronomy club.
- Sign up for a free sighting alert and watch the International Space Station pass overhead.
- Learn about astronauts from your own country and the missions they have flown.
- Build and launch a model rocket with a local club, following its safety rules.
International Day of Human Space Flight dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Saturday, April 12, 2025 |
| 2026 | Sunday, April 12, 2026 |
| 2027 | Monday, April 12, 2027 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, April 12, 2028 |
| 2029 | Thursday, April 12, 2029 |
| 2030 | Friday, April 12, 2030 |
| 2031 | Saturday, April 12, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is International Day of Human Space Flight 2027?
International Day of Human Space Flight 2027 is on Monday, April 12, 2027. It falls on April 12 every year. In 2028, it is on Wednesday, April 12, 2028.
Why is the International Day of Human Space Flight on April 12?
Yuri Gagarin made the first human space flight on April 12, 1961. The UN chose that anniversary when it created the day in 2011.
What is Yuri's Night?
Yuri's Night is a grassroots celebration of human spaceflight held on or around April 12, first organized in 2001. Events range from parties and talks to observatory open houses.
Is it the same as Cosmonautics Day?
They share a date and a reason. Cosmonautics Day was established in the Soviet Union in 1962 and is still marked in Russia, while the UN's International Day of Human Space Flight dates from 2011 and is observed worldwide.
Is International Day of Human Space Flight a public holiday?
No. International Day of Human Space Flight is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.