April 12: Anniversary of the First Human Space Flight
On April 12, the world marks the anniversary of the first human spaceflight. What once seemed impossible is now routine: astronauts can spend months in orbit, conduct research on space stations, and prepare for missions beyond Earth orbit. Here’s how human spaceflight began and what it takes to become an astronaut today.
Contents
- Why April 12 matters
- How to become an astronaut
- What do astronauts eat in space?
- Human spaceflight today: ISS, Tiangong, and Artemis
- First Human Spaceflight: Bottom Line
Why April 12 matters
Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut, became the first human in space on April 12, 1961. During his 108-minute mission aboard Vostok 1, he completed one orbit around Earth and opened a new era of space exploration. A year later, the Soviet Union established Cosmonautics Day to commemorate this historic flight.
In 2011, 50 years after the flight, the UN General Assembly declared April 12 as the International Day of Human Space Flight, which is observed annually to reaffirm the importance of space exploration to humankind.
From Vostok 1 to today's Moon missions, human spaceflight has come a long way. Want to see how well you know the biggest milestones? Take our quiz on the firsts of space exploration!
How to become an astronaut
Today, people can fly into space in two ways: as professional astronauts or as space tourists. Buying a ticket is a quick way to do it. But becoming an astronaut takes years of study, experience, and training. So how long does it actually take?
Astronaut requirements: education, experience, and fitness
Different space agencies have slightly different requirements, but most commonly, they seek people who:
- have a master’s degree (or equivalent qualification, depending on the agency) in a required field (e.g., engineering, science, or medicine);
- have 2-3 years of professional experience or PhD studies;
- have aircraft piloting experience (not necessary but considered a benefit);
- are perfectly healthy, psychologically stable, and in great shape (but over-developed muscles are more of a downside in zero gravity);
- know foreign languages;
- have required citizenship (e.g., American for NASA, ESA member states’ for ESA).
How long does astronaut training take?
If you meet all of the qualifications, feel free to apply. The agency will review your resume and conduct medical screening, physical tests, and interviews. This process might take more than a year. After that, if you are lucky, you will join the team of astronaut candidates.
Future astronauts have to complete a training program aimed at preparing them for life and work in space. Plenty of time is spent on studying the principles of working with onboard systems and complex space equipment. Astronauts are trained in carrying out scientific experiments, which are an important part of space missions.
Candidates train in vacuum chambers to prepare for pressure changes, and experience simulated weightlessness mainly through parabolic flights or underwater. The important part of the training is experiencing isolation to prepare for its mental and emotional effects. On top of that, they have to study a wide variety of topics, such as foreign language, medicine, astronomy, and robotics.
The duration of the training depends on the region:
- NASA (US astronauts): 2 years;
- ESA (European astronauts): more than 3 and a half years;
- JAXA (Japanese astronauts): 4 years;
- CMSA (Chinese astronauts): almost 5 years.
So, how long does it take to become an astronaut? Let’s sum it up: 5-6 years to get a degree, 2-3 years to get professional experience, and then 2-5 years of training. After that, astronauts might wait for months and even years before actually getting to space. But imagine: after all the work is done, you are sitting in a spacecraft, getting ready to start. 3, 2, 1…
What do astronauts eat in space?
Wait a minute! Before going to space, you might want to know what you will eat there. Well, basically, an astronaut’s meal is similar to what we eat on Earth. The difference is it has to be specially prepared (for example, freeze-dried or thermostabilized), but some foods can be eaten in natural forms, such as fruits and nuts.
Crumbly bread is generally avoided in space because loose crumbs can float into equipment or eyes, so astronauts often use tortillas instead. Salt and pepper are usually provided in liquid form.
By the way, gravity affects the sense of taste. In zero gravity, the body fluids move freely around the body instead of settling towards the feet, as they do on Earth. It causes nose congestion, which makes it difficult to smell properly and causes food to taste bland. That’s why many astronauts prefer foods with intense flavors, particularly spicy.
Human spaceflight today: ISS, Tiangong, and Artemis
What do astronauts do in space nowadays? Mostly, they carry out scientific observations. For example, the ISS is a big laboratory floating in the sky. Astronauts onboard analyze how materials behave in space and study the human body and its diseases, such as cancer, osteoporosis, bone atrophy, and so on. This station has been around for a long time, and most likely, you know a lot about it. Test your knowledge of the ISS by taking our quiz!
By the way, the ISS is also one of the brightest objects in the night sky. You can spot it even with the naked eye. See our video tutorial and find the station in the sky with the help of Star Walk 2.
China completed the construction of the Tiangong (“Sky Palace”) space station. It has three modules: the Tianhe core module ("Harmony of the Heavens"), which provides living space for astronauts, and two laboratory modules — Wentian ("Questioning the Heavens") and Mengtian ("Dreaming of the Heavens"). The station aims to provide opportunities for space-based experiments and build capacity for scientific and technological innovation. Want to explore China’s space station in more detail? Try our Tiangong quiz.
Tiangong is also visible to the unaided eye, though it’s fainter than the ISS due to its smaller size. Use the Sky Tonight and Satellite Tracker astronomical apps to learn when it will be flying over your location.
NASA is planning to return man to the Moon and investigate the possibility of staying there and building bases on the lunar surface and orbit.
The first crewed spaceflight of Project Artemis, Artemis II, launched on April 1, 2026. This flyby mission carries Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen around the moon and back to Earth. The mission is intended to prepare for future human missions to the lunar surface.
Artemis II is a flight test supporting subsequent Artemis missions, which are planned to return humans to the lunar surface in 2028 for the first time since the last Moon landing in 1972.
Human spaceflight keeps evolving — from the first orbit around Earth to long-term plans for the Moon and, eventually, Mars. What began with a single 108-minute mission now shapes the future of exploration.
FAQ: First Human Spaceflight and Astronaut Life
Who was the first woman in space?
The first woman to ever go to space was Valentina Tereshkova, a Soviet cosmonaut. On June 16, 1963, two years after Yuri Gagarin’s flight, she was launched into space aboard the spacecraft Vostok 6 and spent 71 hours orbiting the Earth.
Who is the youngest astronaut?
For now, a Soviet cosmonaut, Gherman Titov, remains the youngest of all professional astronauts who have been in space. At the age of 25, he spent one day and one hour in space aboard the Vostok 2. Also, Oliver Daemen from the Netherlands became the youngest space tourist as he joined Blue Origin space flight on July 20, 2021, at the age of 18.
How much money does an astronaut make?
According to the NASA website, based on the 2024 pay schedules, NASA astronauts earn an annual salary of $152,258. ESA astronauts’ salaries vary slightly by state; the average monthly value ranges from approximately €5500 (for recruits) to €7900 (after the first spaceflight).
Do astronauts smoke in space?
Smoking is strictly prohibited onboard the ISS. Open flame may cause a fire in an oxygen-rich environment of the spacecraft, and cigarette smoke can clog air filters.
Do astronauts drink alcohol in space?
It is said that NASA astronaut Buzz Aldrin took communion wine before stepping on the Moon, and Mir station’s cosmonauts had a small amount of vodka and cognac onboard. Anyway, nowadays, consuming alcohol in any space mission is strictly prohibited.
Is there WiFi on the ISS?
Yes, there is WiFi on the ISS. Astronauts use it to communicate with Earth, for work, research, and leisure. Technically, you can even watch Netflix in space — but not for a long time, since the traffic is limited.
What happens if an astronaut floats off in space?
Astronauts are normally tethered during spacewalks, and U.S. spacesuits carry SAFER (Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue), an emergency propulsion unit designed to help a spacewalker return to the station if they become untethered.
How much does an astronaut suit cost?
There is no one price tag, as some space agencies don’t disclose such information, and others have several different models. There is an assumption that the current space suit used by NASA on ISS costs around $12 million.
First Human Spaceflight: Bottom Line
From Yuri Gagarin’s historic 108-minute flight to today’s months-long missions, human spaceflight has come a long way — and it all began on April 12, 1961. Today, the International Day of Human Space Flight reminds us how far humanity has come — from a single orbit aboard Vostok 1 to space stations, lunar missions, and the next generation of astronauts. As we look ahead to lunar bases and beyond, we honor the pioneers and dreamers who made it all possible.
What's the next big step in space exploration? Maybe the discovery of life beyond Earth. But is it even possible? Find out with our infographic and explore the chances of life elsewhere in the Universe!
