International Space Day takes place every year on the first Friday in May. This year that day is May 4.

The holiday is mainly for educational purposes. Organizations take advantage of the date to encourage young people to learn more about space travel.

The holiday was founded in 1997 by the Lockheed Martin Corporation and made a nationally recognized event by former astronaut John Glenn.

Glenn also changed the name from National Space Day to International Space Day to include more of the world’s population.

NASA has taken advantage of International Space Day several times in the past, inviting young people to learn about their astronauts and space travel at their facilities at the Johnson Space Center.

Mr. Chris Schmidt, the coach of the chess and quiz bowl teams, thinks that space is an interesting topic.

“I would like to see more space travel in my lifetime,” Schmidt said. “And SpaceX is moving us towards that, which is good.”

Some students think less of International Space Day.

Seth Bowie, freshman, doesn’t think the holiday is important.

“We can celebrate space travel any day,” Bowie said. “It isn’t that special.”

While some don’t care, others feel that space is a fascinating topic.

Sophomore Maddie Alpin wants to be an astronomer.

“I like the idea that there’s is something else out there,” Alpin said.

The holiday is also a chance to recognize the glorious history of space travel.

From Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon in 1969 to the launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy in 2018, space travel continues to create highlights for history books.

Fun Facts About Space:

• A NASA space suit costs $12 million. Most of that is spent on the waste and oxygen systems worn on the back.
• In three billion years, the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies will collide. There will probably be little effect on Earth, but there will be an impressive light show.
• The largest asteroid ever recorded is 600 miles wide.
• After astronaut Scott Kelly spent 340 days on the International Space Station, he had become nearsighted.
• The universe is estimated to be 13.8 billion years old.