His flight marked a new chapter in human history. Exclaiming "Poyekhali!!" (Let's go), he launched aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Can humans survive in space? Is space travel feasible? Will communication with Earth remain strong and effective? Can a safe return be ensured? Today, we celebrate the anniversary of Yuri Gagarin, the first person to answer these questions. On April 12, 1961, he made it all possible.

This mission was the first manned space endeavor to complete an entire orbit around Earth. Vostok 1 orbited at a speed of 27,400 kilometers per hour. The entire flight lasted approximately 108 minutes. During the return, the spacecraft was controlled by a computer. However, the most remarkable aspect was that Gagarin did not land inside the capsule. Soviet engineers had not developed a sufficient braking system for a safe landing, making a high-speed descent potentially dangerous for a human. Therefore, the plan was for Gagarin to exit the spacecraft and parachute down.

When Vostok 1 reached an altitude of about 23,000 feet, the spacecraft hatch opened, and two seconds later, Gagarin leaped from the ejection seat. He began his descent with a parachute that opened immediately. After a ten-minute parachute descent, he landed safely on the ground.

Initially, Soviet officials kept this unique method of landing a secret. According to the rules of the International Aviation Federation (FAI), a pilot must land with the craft to set a world record. Early reports claimed Gagarin landed with the capsule, but it was later revealed that he parachuted down. This decision was made for safety reasons, as the capsule’s landing was too fast and bouncy.

This successful flight made him a national hero in the Soviet Union and an international celebrity. He later became the deputy director of the cosmonaut training center, where he trained new cosmonauts. He also completed a thesis in aerospace engineering. However, Soviet officials hesitated to send him back into space due to the fear of losing him. Tragically, on March 27, 1968, at the age of 34, Gagarin died in a crash during a MIG-15UTI jet training flight. His death shocked the world.

Today, Gagarin’s legacy lives on. The cosmonaut training center is named the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. The launch pad at Baikonur is known as "Gagarin Start," from where ISS missions are still launched. Statues of him and American astronaut John Glenn stand together in Houston.

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