Russian Space Agency Declares 2016 ‘The Year of Yuri Gagarin'

The year 2016 has been announced to be the Year of Yuri Gagarin in commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the launch of the first human into orbit, Roscosmos' press service reported earlier.

On April 12, 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to journey into outer space when he launched into the Earth's orbit on the Vostok 3KA-3 spacecraft.

Russian Roscomos is planning to commemorate this event by organizing various anniversary events, which are to be announced on the agency's official website in the near future.

"We invite all those who are interested in space, dream of distant planets and those for whom Russia's space activities are a part of life to join us," the statement of the press service said.

The decision to declare 2016 "The Year of Yuri Gagarin" also has a symbolic meaning because in spring 2016 Russia is planning the first launch of a rocket carrier from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, located in Russia's Far Eastern Amur Region.

The Vostochny Cosmodrome is expected to reduce Russia's dependency on the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, which is on lease to Russia until 2050.