Yuri Gagarin, First Human in Space
Gagarin's Start launch pad, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
What happened
On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin was launched in Vostok 1 from what is now Kazakhstan. He orbited the Earth once in a flight that lasted 108 minutes, seeing the Earth through a single window. As planned, he ejected from the capsule about 7 kilometers above the ground and parachuted down, landing near the Russian city of Saratov.
Why it matters
Gagarin was the first human to orbit the Earth, beginning the era of human spaceflight and pushing the Space Race forward.
What came next
In May 1961 the American Alan Shepard made a short flight into space, and on 25 May President John F. Kennedy asked Congress to commit to landing humans on the Moon.
Did you know?
Just after liftoff, Gagarin shouted Poyekhali! over the radio, which roughly means Let's roll!
Timeline
- 1957The Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the first artificial satellite.
- 12 April 1961Gagarin orbits the Earth in Vostok 1.
- 25 May 1961Kennedy calls for a Moon landing.
- TodayThe pad, now called Gagarin's Start, is still used for crewed Soyuz launches.