Sixty years ago, he became the first person to orbit the Earth and such landmark event ‘triggered in me not only an interest in physics, but also a long-standing conviction that the most complex challenges can be overcome with conviction and creativity,’ the UN official tweeted.

Just on Monday, the astronaut of the European Space Agency, Thomas Pesquet, was appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The French astronaut is a strong advocate of actions on climate change; he has used his experience of 196 consecutive days aboard the International Space Station to stress the need for unity on Earth.

Sixty years ago, Gagarin’s flight paved the way for space exploration for all mankind’s sake, according to different experts on the subject.

The date of the liftoff was declared by the UN General Assembly as the International Day of Human Space Flight to highlight that important contribution.

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