65 years ago, man first went into space
2026-04-12 01:15:00 / News
April 12, 1961. Yuri Gagarin made the first human spaceflight in history. From that day on, space was no longer a dream—it became a goal.
Exploring space is one of humanity’s greatest aspirations. Today, space technologies have become a key driver of science, the economy, and innovation, playing a strategic role in the development of nations.
Our country has deep scientific traditions in astronomy. Great scholars such as Mirzo Ulughbek, Abu Rayhan Beruni, Farabi, and Fergani conducted fundamental research on the motion of celestial bodies and the structure of the universe centuries ago. Their scientific legacy continues to inspire humanity toward new discoveries.
In recent years, special attention has been given at the state level to the development of space activities in our country. In particular, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in his Address to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan on December 26, 2025, announced that work had begun on creating a national satellite and sending Uzbekistan’s first astronaut into orbit. This indicates that our country is entering a new stage in the field of space technologies.
On February 16 of this year, during a presentation held in the presence of the President, a project to create the first national scientific satellite was also reviewed as part of efforts to enhance scientific and technological capacity. Within the project, it was proposed to train specialists, form an engineering team, and launch a 6U-format scientific satellite named “Mirzo Ulughbek” in 2028. At the initiative of the Head of State, preparing the first national astronaut and sending them into space has been defined as a strategic task, with instructions given to prepare for a short-term mission of 10–14 days.
“This is not just a symbolic step, but a reflection of our country’s scientific potential, the dreams of our youth, and our national pride,” the President emphasized.
The First Human Spaceflight in History
April 12, 1961, is recognized as an unforgettable date that marked an entirely new stage in the development of science and technology. On this day, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin became the first human to travel into space.
He launched aboard the spacecraft Vostok from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and completed an orbital flight around Earth lasting 108 minutes. Thus, humanity crossed beyond the boundaries of our planet for the first time and gained the opportunity to explore space in practice.
This historic event marked the beginning of a new era not only in cosmonautics but also in the development of human civilization. Gagarin’s flight laid the foundation for large-scale scientific research and technological achievements in space exploration.
Recognizing the significance of this date, on April 7, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a special resolution declaring April 12 as the International Day of Human Space Flight.
Cosmonautics – A Driver of Scientific and Technological Progress
Space research has fundamentally changed humanity’s understanding of the universe. At the same time, cosmonautics has significantly contributed to the development of many fields, including astronomy, astrophysics, medicine, biology, materials science, geology, and atmospheric physics.
Space technologies have become an integral part of modern life. For example, remote sensing of Earth, satellite navigation, global communication systems, digital television, internet networks, and online data exchange all emerged thanks to space research. Today, space-based data is widely used in transportation logistics, agriculture, water management, geology, land management, climate monitoring, and natural resource management.
Uzbekistan and the History of Space Exploration
Uzbekistan is also directly connected to the history of space exploration. Many specialists from Uzbekistan participated in the construction of the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Engineers, builders, communication specialists, and other professionals from the republic made valuable contributions to this strategic facility.
Cosmonauts born in Uzbekistan have also played an important role. In particular, Hero of the Soviet Union and aviation Major General Vladimir Dzhanibekov is one of the most experienced cosmonauts, having completed five space missions. He spent more than 145 days in space. A minor planet (No. 3170) was named in his honor, and a bust of Dzhanibekov is installed near the Kosmonavtlar metro station in the capital.
In addition, Salizhan Sharipov, Hero of the Russian Federation and Kyrgyzstan and the world’s 372nd cosmonaut, also made significant contributions to space exploration. He participated in several space expeditions, conducted scientific experiments, and performed activities in open space.
A New Stage: National Space Development
Special attention is being given to the use of space technologies in our country. According to a decree adopted on August 30, 2019, the Space Research and Technology Agency—“Uzbekcosmos”—was established.
Today, the agency conducts space monitoring in agriculture, water resource management, land relations, forestry, ecology, and geology based on remote sensing data. These data play an important role in helping government bodies use natural resources efficiently, detect environmental issues early, and make informed economic decisions.
At the same time, Uzbekcosmos is expanding cooperation with leading global space agencies and companies, including Airbus (France), Maxar (USA), SpaceX (USA), OneWeb (UK), SSI Monaco (Monaco), Synspective (Japan), Esri (USA), BlackSky (USA), and SpaceBuzz (USA). It also collaborates with space agencies from Azerbaijan, Türkiye, the UAE, Kazakhstan, France (CNES), the USA (NASA), China (CNSA), Japan (JAXA), and Korea (KARI).
Space – The Economy of the Future
Today, the space industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global economy. According to experts, the global space market has already exceeded $500 billion. Analysts predict that it could reach $1 trillion by 2030 and $2 trillion by 2035.
As modern digital technologies, artificial intelligence, navigation systems, “smart city” concepts, and robotic systems continue to develop, demand for space data and services is also increasing.
The agency is also implementing numerous educational projects to train specialists in the space sector. These include competitions such as “CanSat” and “Young Engineer,” international hackathons like Act In Space and NASA Space Apps Challenge, as well as short-term programs like the “Cosmic Camp” summer space camp focused on robotics, astronomy, and small satellite development.
In conclusion, exploring space and effectively utilizing its opportunities is of immense importance for human progress. Cosmonautics not only enriches scientific knowledge but also plays a key role in economic development, technological innovation, and solving global challenges.
On this occasion, we sincerely congratulate all specialists, scientists, engineers, and astronaut-pilots working in the aviation and space sectors on April 12 – the International Day of Human Space Flight. We wish you new achievements and great discoveries in the noble and responsible path of exploring the universe.