12 April marks Aviation and Cosmonautics Day. 56 years ago Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin said his famous phrase Poyekhali! (Let's go!) and broke free of Earth’s gravity. Belarusian people participated in sending the first human to outer space, too. For example, Slutsk-born Semyon Kosberg made a third stage launcher that was necessary for the first human spaceflight. His fellow townsman Konstantin Davidovsky supervised the launch of the world’s first planetary rover. Today, a commemorative plaque for Konstantin Davidovsky was unveiled in the school where he studied.
On the whole, Slutsk is considered to be Belarus’ space capital. More than 30 Belarusians from this town contributed significantly to the space industry and even astronomy. An exhibition To Faraway Stars gives its visitors a chance to learn more about the achievements of the famous Belarusians. Also, an idea of setting up a cosmonautics museum in Slutsk is now being discussed.












