Who is the first person went to space? This question has intrigued humanity for decades, marking a significant milestone in the history of space exploration. The answer to this question lies in the remarkable journey of a Soviet cosmonaut named Yuri Gagarin.
Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin was born on March 9, 1934, in the small village of Klushino, near Gzhatsk, which is now known as Gagarin, in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Gagarin’s early life was not particularly affluent, but he showed a keen interest in aviation from a young age. This passion led him to pursue a career in the Soviet Air Force.
In the late 1950s, the Soviet Union was racing against the United States in the Space Race. The Cold War had escalated, and both superpowers were determined to claim the title of the first nation to send a human into space. The Soviet Union’s space program, known as the Soviet Space Program, was in full swing, and they were searching for the right candidate to accomplish this historic feat.
Gagarin was selected from a group of 20 Soviet Air Force pilots to be the first human in space. After rigorous training, which included survival training, spacewalking practice, and spacecraft familiarization, Gagarin was finally ready for the mission. On April 12, 1961, at the age of 27, he became the first person to orbit the Earth, aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft.
The mission lasted for 108 minutes, during which Gagarin traveled approximately 400 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. The event was broadcasted live across the world, capturing the imagination of millions and marking the beginning of the space age. Gagarin’s achievement was not only a triumph for the Soviet Union but also for all humanity.
Unfortunately, Gagarin’s life was cut short on March 27, 1968, when he died in a plane crash during a routine training flight. Despite his untimely death, Gagarin’s legacy continues to inspire generations of astronauts and space enthusiasts worldwide. He remains an iconic figure in the history of space exploration, and his name is synonymous with the first person to go to space.
