Yuri Gagarin

Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (Russian: ???? ?????????? ???????; March 9, 1934 ? March 27, 1968), was a Soviet cosmonaut who in 1961 became the first human to travel into space.

Career in Soviet Space Program

Selection and Training

In 1960, an extensive search and selection process saw Gagarin, amongst 20 other cosmonauts, selected for the Soviet space program. Along with the other prospective cosmonauts, he was subjected to a punishing series of experiments designed to test his physical and psychological endurance, as well as training relating to the upcoming flight. Out of the 20 selected, eventually the choice for the first to launch was between Gagarin and Gherman Titov, because of their excellent performance in training, as well as their physical characteristics - space was at a premium in the small Vostok cockpit. The choice of Gagarin, ultimately approved at the highest levels, was probably made due to Gagarin's modest upbringing and genial, outgoing personality, as distinct from the middle-class and somewhat aloof Titov.

Related Topics:
1960 - Soviet space program - Gherman Titov

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Space Flight

On April 12, 1961, Gagarin became the first human to travel into space (see Vostok 1). His call sign in this flight was Cedar (Russian: ????). According to international media, from orbit Gagarin made the comment, "I don't see any god up here." There are however no such words in the full verbatim record of Gagarin's conversations with the Earth during the spaceflight http://gagarin.cbs.org.ru/gagarin/files/efir.doc

Related Topics:
April 12 - 1961 - Space - Vostok 1 - Cedar - Russian

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While in orbit Gagarin was promoted "in the field" from the lowly rank of Second Lieutenant to Major - and this was the rank at which TASS announced him in its triumphant statement during the flight. At the time the Soviet authorities thought it was more likely he would perish during his descent than survive.

Related Topics:
Lieutenant - Major - TASS

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Returning to Earth, Gagarin became very famous. Nikita Khrushchev rushed to his side and Gagarin issued a statement praising the Communist Party of the Soviet Union as the "organiser of all our victories". He then toured the world.

Related Topics:
Nikita Khrushchev - Communist Party of the Soviet Union

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Khrushchev saw Gagarin's achievement as a vindication of his policy of strengthening the Soviet Union's missile forces at the expense of conventional arms. This policy antagonised the Soviet military establishment and contributed to Khrushchev's eventual downfall.

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Post-Space Flight Activities

After the flight, Gagarin became an instant, worldwide celebrity, touring widely to promote the Soviet achievement. He proved quite adept at handling the publicity. However, it appeared to gradually wear him down, and he began to drink heavily - not helped by difficulties in his marriage. In October 1961 he severely injured himself in a drunken holiday escapade with a young nurse in the Crimea.

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From 1962 he served as a deputy to the Supreme Soviet, but later returned to "Star City", the cosmonaut facility, where he worked on designs for a reusable spacecraft. In 1967, he was selected as backup for the first Soyuz launch. The Soyuz capsule's parachute failed during reentry and the craft crashed, killing Vladimir Komarov.

Related Topics:
Supreme Soviet - Star City - Soyuz - Vladimir Komarov

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