The UN General Assembly will vote next week on a resolution to declare April 12 International Spaceflight Day, Russian envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin said on Friday.
“In Russia and several other countries April 12 is Cosmonaut Day, but the there is no such holiday in the UN calendar,” Churkin told reporters.
“A draft resolution proposed by Russia will bridge that gap.” April 12 will mark the 50th anniversary of the first manned space flight by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.
Despite his many shortfalls – alleged drinking benders and adultery – Gagarin remains a national hero, and an impossible dream, a country boy with a winsome smile transformed overnight into one of the most famous men in the world.
MOSCOW, April 1 (RIA Novosti)