The spaceship, piloted by the Soviet cosmonaut Y. Gagarin, reached the earth orbit. Since that time this day has been regarded as the Day of Cosmonautics in the Russian calendar.

At present day Russia is still a great power which regularly arranges space exploration programmes. And nowadays when other countries which claim to be great powers pretend to get the leading positions at space exploration, Russia continues to develop its own ambitious space projects. One should not forget that it was our country that opened the era of spaceflights and sent the first man into space. That is why the 12th of April is celebrated in Russia as a big holiday.