Yuri Gagarin’s First Human Spaceflight: On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to journey into outer space aboard Vostok 1. Completing one orbit around Earth in 108 minutes, he reached an altitude of 327 kilometers, proving humans could survive and function in microgravity. His famous exclamation, “Poyekhali!” (“Let’s go!”), echoed globally, cementing the USSR’s early lead in the space race. Gagarin’s flight was a triumph of engineering and courage, conducted with minimal safety margins by today’s standards. The mission’s success triggered a surge in space ambitions worldwide and directly motivated President Kennedy’s 1961 pledge to land Americans on the Moon. Gagarin instantly became an international hero, symbolizing human potential beyond Earth. His achievement remains a foundational moment in human spaceflight history.
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