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Herald Reporter

The Russian embassy in Zimbabwe yesterday celebrated the 60th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s flight into space with an exhibition at the premises of the Zimbabwe Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA).

Dubbed “Let’s go!” the exhibition was prepared by the Sputnik news agency and offered to the ZINGSA by the Russian embassy in Harare. 

The opening was attended by the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Zimbabwe Mr Nikolai Krasilnikov, the head of ZINGSA Mr Painos Gweme, the Deputy Minister of Primary and Seconday Education Mr Raymore Machingura, students of the University of Zimbabwe and the agency staff. 

Mr Machingura emphasized the important role of Russia not only in the liberation struggle of the African countries from colonial dependence, but also acknowledged the assistance provided by the Russian Federation in supporting joint projects in the field of science and technology.

Mr Krasilnikov noted the importance of the prospects for signing a Memorandum of Understanding between Roscosmos and ZINGSA, which will open up future joint research and the launch of the first Zimbabwean satellite. 

The ambassador stressed that the Memorandum of Understanding between Rosatom and the Ministry of Energy, approved by the Zimbabwean Cabinet, made it possible to develop nuclear power in the country.

Mr Gweme noted that the first flight of Yuri Gagarin into space opened the way for many discoveries and showed the way to the stars.

In a statement the embassy said: “On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin opened the way into space for humanity. Since 2011, on Russia’s initiative, April 12 has been marked as the International Day of Human Space Flight by the UN General Assembly Resolution.

“In 1959, the Soviet Union launched the first satellite. 

“The same year, the Soviet interplanetary probe became the first man-made device to have reached the Moon. In 1960, Belka and Strelka, the two dogs, were launched and returned back to Earth after 25-hour orbital flight.

“The first cosmonaut was to be selected from the contingent of fighter pilots with long flight records. By the moment Gagarin started training he had 230 hours in flight to his credit.”

His Vostok spacecraft was launched from the Baikonur space site at 09:07 Moscow time on April 12. Yuri Gagarin’s phrase before launching “Poyehali!” (“Let’s go!”), became famous and popular worldwide.

The flight lasted for 108 minutes and the spacecraft orbited the earth once. 

It was a world sensation turned into Moscow’s global appeal for peace and halting the arm’s race. That was emphasized during Gagarin’s Peace Mission International Tour when he was welcomed in many countries at the highest level.

“Despite the Cold War that was going on at the time, the Soviet Union’s triumph wasn’t about a victory over someone. It was about the joy that filled everyone around the world with recognition of new possibilities, the confidence that due to the genius of scientists and the tireless efforts of engineers, humanity will reach new heights.

“Nowadays Russia with the ambitious Space Programme is eager to contribute to developing the Zimbabwe National Geospatial and Space Agency (ZINGSA) in pursuance to the highest level accord between President Vladimir Putin and President Emmerson Mnangagwa made in the course of the Zimbabwean Leader historic visit to Moscow in 2019,” said the embassy.

The Roskosmos State Corporation for Space Activities and ZINGSA have intensified preparing a MoU on exploration and use of space for peaceful purposes.