It was created to inspire all of us in the pursuit of knowledge and progress, to share the excitement of space exploration. It is a day to learn more about the universe and to get people interested in "out of this world" thinking. Like did you know that you cannot hear any sounds in space? Sound travels by making vibrations in molecules and atoms and travels from one place to another. There are no atoms in space and therefore sound cannot travel. Now you know where to go to truly experience silence. Share your space images or inspirations with #nationalspaceday

National Space Day is celebrated on the first Friday in May. There’s so much going on in the universe, it definitely deserves a day to reflect on everything! 

In 1997, the Lockheed Martin Corporation introduced National Space Day as a one-off event, with the aim to promote the STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs. In 2001 it was expanded to International Space Day, due to its extreme popularity, by former astronaut and senator John Glenn. America and Russia competed to be the first to achieve space flight and eventually put a man on the moon. America won the race when Apollo 11 and its team of astronauts landed on the moon on July 16, 1969. Now the race is on for putting humans on Mars and the competitors have changed from being countries to private companies. Who is going to be the first? We will have to wait and see!