International Day of Human Space Flight 12 Apr 2026

International Day of Human Space Flight

Today, the world marks the International Day of Human Space Flight, a United Nations observance honouring the first human journey into space and the start of the space age for humanity. The date recalls 12 April, 1961, when Yuri Gagarin orbited Earth, proving that people could leave the planet and return safely.

© NASA

palette

Today in History

A view that’s out of this world
12 Apr 2024Arches National Park, Utah, USA
12 Apr 2025International Day of Human Space Flight

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sequoias of the sea
28 Dec 202350 years of the Endangered Species Act
28 Feb 2024Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England
The lonely castle
25 Oct 2023Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA
1 Nov 2025Peña Roya beech forest, Moncayo Natural Park, Aragon, Spain
This ‘snow’ never melts
9 May 2026Skradinski Buk Waterfall, Krka National Park, Croatia
8 Feb 2025Medieval towers in Mestia, Upper Svaneti, Georgia
23 Jul 2025Vatican City, Rome, Italy
So close, yet so far
18 Mar 2026Pacific Rim Whale Festival
Where the humpback whale sings
1 Jul 2025Happy Canada Day!
Let’s protect our turtles
6 Jan 2026Nuuk, Greenland
3 Sep 2024Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, USA
28 Mar 2024Cherry blossoms in Shanghai, China
Heads together
11 Jan 2024Eurasian lynx
2 Jun 2026Highway through Xitai Jinaier Lake, Qinghai Province, China
A glimpse of the grandest of canyons
30 Mar 2024Brown-throated three-toed sloth
26 Dec 2023Happy Boxing Day!
5 May 2025Brighton Festival
3 Nov 2023World Jellyfish Day
23 Feb 2024Haghartsin Monastery, Armenia
A sky full of stars
Step back in time...
12 Dec 2023Reed bunting