International Day of Human Space Flight

BOTTOM

Films and Stories

During this challenging time, NASA has created resources for homeschoolers and lifelearners.

The General Assembly declared April 12 as the International Day of Human Space Flight “to celebrate each year at the international level the beginning of the space era for mankind, reaffirming the important contribution of space science and technology in achieving sustainable development goals and increasing the well-being of States and peoples, as well as ensuring the realization of their aspiration to maintain outer space for peaceful purposes.”

12 April 1961 was the date of the first human space flight, carried out by Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet citizen. This historic event opened the way for space exploration for the benefit of all humanity.

Bella Gaia

Produced by:Kenji Williams

Bella Galia means Beautiful Earth. Producer Kenji Williams came up with the idea after meeting an astronaut who lived on a space station for 6 months.

The Hardworking and Fearless Katherine Johnson

By: Khushi Sarolia

Katherine Johnson plotted multiple flight courses for NASA, including the course of the Apollo 11 spacecraft, which is famous for having been the first spaceship to reach the moon

Stories

Margot Lee Shetterly: Shining a Light on Hidden Figures

By: Shannon Luders-Manuel

Margot Lee Shetterly is the author of "Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race."

Diana Trujillo

By: Abigail Richardson

From housekeeper to aerospace leader Diana Trujillo is an inspiration to Latina engineers around the world!

Alyssa Carson: A Future in Mars

By: Jennifer Yoshikoshi

Ellen Ochoa

By: Daniel Chavez

Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman astronaut.

Mae Jemison

By: Christian Walsh

Mae Jemison dreamed of going to space since childhood.

John Glenn

By: Kathy Crockett

John Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth.

Yuri Gagarin

By: Gleb from Victoria

"Orbiting Earth in the spaceship, I saw how beautiful our planet is. People, let us preserve and increase this beauty, not destroy it!"

Valentina Tereshkova

By: Alina from Novosibirsk

Valentina Tereshkova is the first woman and first civilian to fly in space.

Neil A. Armstrong

By: Soo Han from San Diego

Neil A. Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon.

Sally Ride

By: Sara

Guion S. Bluford, Jr.

By: Jonathan from Michigan

Christa McAuliffe

By: Susannah Abbey

Christa McAuliffe was the first teacher to fly in space.

Ellison S. Onizuka

By: Jeff Liu

Ellison S. Onizuka has a legacy that continues to live on after the Challenger disaster.

Commander Chris Hadfield

By: Wendy Jewell from The My Hero Project

Commander Chris Hadfield is the first Canadian to become the commander of the International Space Station.

Franklin Chang Diaz

By: Emma Navajas

Franklin Chang Diaz is a Costa Rican and American veteran of seven Space Shuttle missions.

Julie Payette

By: Jillian from Calgary

Judith A. Resnik

By: Alyssa from Ohio

Judith A. Resnik inspired others with her determination to become a scientist and an astronaut.

Kathy Sullivan

By: Raquel Diaz-Sprague<br><h5> Reprinted with permission from <br>the <a href=h...

Kathy Sullivan was the first American woman to walk in space.

Bonnie Dunbar

By: Kristine from Everson

Bonnie Dunbar helped start a scholars program to inspire students to pursue careers in aerospace and engineering.

Chiaki Mukai

By: Claudia Herrera Hudson

Chiaki Mukai is the first female Japanese astronaut.

Jim Lovell

By: Kevin from Knightdale

Jim Lovell responded quickly and calmly during crises on two Apollo missions.

Yury Usachev

By: Vera from Korolev

Art

Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson is an African-American physicist and mathematician who made contributions to the United States' aeronautics and space programs with the early application of digital electronic computers at NASA