Photo location: Moscow — reception and celebrations following Yuri Gagarin’s return from the first manned space flight in history on April 12, 1961.

Nikita Khrushchev welcoming Yuri Gagarin in Moscow, 1961.

Significance: Khrushchev exploited the triumph politically to emphasize the superiority of the Soviet system and the progress of socialism.

Expression: He appears enthusiastic, proud, and perhaps emotional, as the space flight was regarded as a great victory in the Cold War.

The photograph symbolizes the close connection between space exploration and politics and shows how Khrushchev staged Gagarin’s success as a prestige gain for the Soviet Union.