Yuri Gagarin
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Date: 12-04-1961
Yuri Gagarin was a fighter pilot for the Russian Air Force. In 1960, he was selected to join the Russian Space Program. The Russia and the United States were in a true space race and the Russians were winning it. In 1957 they had sent the first satellite into space, the Sputnik 1. The Russians also managed to launch the first animal into orbit, a dog named Laika. Their next goal was to launch a human into space. Yuri Gagarin passed the many physical and psychological tests required to be a cosmonaut but another advantage was, that he wasn't very tall. With a height of 1,54 meter (or 5 Ft.) he would fit easily in the space capsule Vostok 1. |
Replica of the Sputnik 1.
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On 12-04-1961 Gagarin was launched into space at 06:07 in the morning. He entered orbit with the Vostok 1 and circled the earth. At 08.05, just two hours later, he was back in Russia. After parachuting out of the Vostok at a height of 7 kilometers, he landed near a farm. There he met the farmer and his daughter. They were shocked with disbelief. They had never seen a man in a spacesuit!
Did you know?
The anniversary of Gagarin’s first flight has been celebrated in Russia as a holiday known as Cosmonautics Day.
The anniversary of Gagarin’s first flight has been celebrated in Russia as a holiday known as Cosmonautics Day.
Location:
Gagarin was launched from a base at Baikonur, modern-day Kazachstan.
Gagarin was launched from a base at Baikonur, modern-day Kazachstan.
