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April 20, 2026

First in Space (Week)

First in Space (Week)
Russia's very first Space Week focused on more than just the cosmos.  The Russian Life files

As NASA’s record-breaking Artemis II mission sent humans further into deep space than ever before, Russia spent the week celebrating its Soviet-era space achievements.

Without a doubt, Russia has reason to celebrate Soviet space milestones. Sixty-five years ago, on April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into outer space. To mark the historic flight, Cosmonautics Day was established, a holiday that continues to be celebrated in Russia.

And the much-loved Hero of the Soviet Union is far from the only cosmonaut record-holder.

  • Sputnik I was the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, in 1957.
  • The same year, Sputnik II carried a dog named Laika, who was the first animal to orbit Earth, but did not return alive. In 1960, the stray dogs Belka and Strelka reached and safely returned from space, with Gagarin’s flight the next year.
  • Another notable achievement was Valentina Tereshkova becoming the first woman in space in 1963.

With so many records to celebrate, it seems that having a single Cosmonautics Day simply did not allow for enough fanfare. In December 2025, President Vladimir Putin signed a presidential decree establishing Space Week: April 6 to 12. In an address read by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Putin expressed his hope that the extended celebration would enhance the prestige of the rocket and space industries. He also noted that the holiday is celebrated not only by scientists and engineers in the industry but also by military personnel.

Russia’s first Space Week was dedicated to the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s flight. Roscosmos, the State Corporation for Space Activities, has been a major organizer of events held across Russia, ranging from educational lectures to cultural events, many of which have taken place in schools or involve youth programs.

A televised gala concert in the Kremlin concluded Space Week. Highlights included cosmonauts on the International Space Station giving a televised greeting to audience members, as well as a piano performance by 96-year-old composer, and friend of Yuri Gagarin, Alexandra Pakhmutova. A special part of the concert was also dedicated to commemorating fallen volunteer soldiers in Russia’s War on Ukraine.

Rather than celebrating major historical milestones or commemorating fallen cosmonauts (or cosmonaut-dogs), major Space Week events inevitably turned to the war dead. Despite the significant overlap between military and space technologies (like German V-2 rocket scientists joining NASA after World War II), some of humanity’s greatest space-age achievements cannot help but be overshadowed by present-day turmoil.

Tags: russia fileholidayscosmonautspace raceyuri gagarinRoscosmos

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