11 April 2014 The necessity for international cooperation in space and the universal utility of duct tape were among insights revealed when the United Nations sent a former astronaut into cyberspace today to inspire young people to explore new frontiers on the anniversary of the first human space flight.

Takao Doi, an expert on space applications with the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), who was an astronaut prior to joining the world Organization, conducted a Twitter chat to answer questions about his experiences ahead of the International Day of Human Space Flight, celebrated on 12 April.

On that day in 1961, Yuri Gagarin of the Soviet Union bThe exploration of outer space is a truly global undertaking and I hope that the International Day of Human Space Flight will inspire young people, in particular, to strive towards new frontiers of knowledge and understanding.ecame the first human to go into space. Fifty years later, the UN General Assembly declared the International Day to mark the new era that had dawned and to encourage peaceful uses of outer space that would benefit all people.

Mr. Doi flew in the space shuttles Columbia and Endeavour, in 1997 and 2008, respectively, undertaking a space walk in the first mission and visiting the International Space Station in the second.

Answering questions in todays Twitter chat, he compared the experience of walking in space to swimming in a scuba suit, and said that the space station was much larger than people imagined as big as a football field, lots of live and work space.

Asked if duct tape is ever used to temporarily repair equipment in space, Mr. Doi wrote, All the time! Duct tape is an astronaut's best friend, carry it everywhere.

UNOOSA space applications expert and astronaut Takao Doi (right) works outside the space shuttle Columbia in 1997. Photo: NASA

Takao Doi was aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour mission STS-123 as it blasted off on 11 March 2008. Photo: NASA

On his 2008 mission, Takao Doi visited the International Space Station, above. Photo: NASA

In the gravity-free environment of the Space Shuttle Endeavour the crew gathers for a group photo. Photo: NASA

Read more:

Marking Day of Human Space Filght, online astronaut encourages exploration: Always carry duct tape