Space exploration must remain a field of human cooperation, lucidity and the dignity of civilisation, cosmonaut Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu said on Thursday, in the context of the International Day of Human Space Flight, established on 12 April by the United Nations.

'12 April commemorates the 1961 flight of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to move beyond the limits of his planet. Beyond its significance as a national achievement, that moment became a universal symbol of the dawn of humanity's cosmic era. With this first step, humankind left its planetary cradle for the first time. It is noteworthy that, on the very day of Gagarin's flight, United States President John F. Kennedy welcomed the Soviet accomplishment and expressed hope for space cooperation in the interest of humanity. At a time of intense strategic rivalry, this gesture demonstrated that outer space can serve not only as a theatre of competition, but also as a realm of dialogue and mutual respect,' Prunariu said in a press release sent to AGERPRES.

According to him, the cosmos is one of the few realms in which humanity is compelled to see itself in its true proportions.

'From space, the borders, doctrines and resentments that divide us are invisible. What can be seen is only Earth - our sole home, fragile and splendid, carried through the vastness of the universe by delicate balances on which all human life depends,' Prunariu stressed.

In his view, human spaceflight should be seen not only as a scientific and technological achievement, but also as an experience of consciousness.

'It reminds us that, beyond earthly conflicts, there is a deeper belonging: that of our shared humanity. In the face of the cosmos, people are not merely citizens of states, but inhabitants of the same planet, bearers of the same destiny. History has shown that space can open paths of cooperation even when Earth remains divided. The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975, the first Soviet-American crewed mission, remains a vivid symbol of a 'handshake in space', proving that professionalism and trust can overcome the logic of confrontation. The same idea has been carried forward, on an unprecedented scale, through the International Space Station and will continue, in new forms, beyond its current operational cycle,' Dumitru Prunariu added.

At the same time, he noted, people clearly understand that life cannot be safeguarded through propaganda, imposture or hostility, and that in space, technical truth, competence, discipline and cooperation become direct conditions of survival.

'As someone who has had the privilege of seeing Earth from space, I can say with full conviction that this experience fundamentally changes one's scale of values. It teaches you how united humanity is in its real destiny and how fragile the foundation of our entire existence is. It also teaches you that our cosmic future cannot be built soundly except on truth, professionalism, competence and moral responsibility. That is why my message for 12 April is clear: space exploration must remain a domain of human cooperation, lucidity and the dignity of civilisation. We may have different systems, interests and perspectives, but when we look towards the cosmos we must remember that, above all, we represent humanity,' Prunariu emphasised.

He also expressed hope that humanity's cosmic vocation will continue to unite where politics divides, to illuminate where ignorance darkens and to inspire where conflict degrades, because the stake of humanity's presence in the universe is not only how far it can go, but also whether it will know how to become, morally and spiritually, worthy of that journey.

'12 April is not merely the marking of a historical moment. It is a call for maturity and clarity for all humankind,' the cosmonaut concluded. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Roberto Stan; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)