Celebrate the History of Space Flight

Screenshot from First Orbit (the movie), created by FirstOrbit.org.

Today marks the 50 year anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's 108-minute, first human in space, orbit of the Earth on April 12, 1961. It's a big day in the history of space exploration and flight!

To join in the celebration, make a bit of "space" in your day for some space history!

• Make contact.

  Students (or classes) interested in space studies can try and make contact with astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). Our HAMing It Up with the Astronauts* project can help get them started.
  
  

• Explore liftoff.
  Students can learn more about the power behind liftoff when they use an online NASA simulator to design an ion engine, part of a propulsion system which is replacing the standard chemical propulsion system.

  
  

• Think big.

  Students can explore a range of astro-related science projects in the Science Buddies Project Ideas Directory.

  
  

• Look ahead.

  Explore a space- and astronomy-related careers, including Aerospace Engineer and Astronomer.
  

  
  

• Tune in.

  Don't miss First Orbit, a free hour-and-a-half YouTube video that weaves together original footage and new footage from the ISS to recreate, in real time, that first flight. Class popcorn party anyone?