Gagarin

In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to pilot a spacecraft when he was launched aboard Vostok 1 by the Soviet Union.

Yuri Gagarin was born near Moscow, Russia on March 9, 1934.

On April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth.

Yuri Gagarin was killed in a plane crash before he could travel in space a second time.

When Yuri Gagarin took off in Vostok 1, he was an Air Force lieutenant. When he landed, he was a major.

Colonel Yuri A. Gagarin was born on a collective farm in a region west of Moscow, Russia on March 9, 1934.

Yuri Gagarin flew only one space mission.

Once in orbit, Yuri Gagarin had no control over his spacecraft. Vostok's reentry was controlled by a computer program sending radio commands to the space capsule.

Although the controls were locked, a key had been placed in a sealed envelope in case an emergency situation made it necessary for Gagarin to take control of the spacecraft.

After his successful space flight, the Soviet Union paid its official thanks to Yuri Gagarin. There was a six-hour parade through Red Square, followed by a ceremony at the Lenin Mausoleum where Gagarin was greeted by General Secretary Nikita Khrushchev.