Vostok Space Capsule 1961 6

Description

Vostok space capsule, photo; licensed article; original: 5740×4315; photographer: Unknown; subject to license; rights: 0a9 Bleek/zb Media. The photo shows the Vostok space capsule in which Yuri Gagarin became the first human to fly into space on April 12, 1961. A “Space First” achievement of Soviet spaceflight.
Description of the space capsule:
The Vostok 1 was a spherical spacecraft with a diameter of about 2.3 meters, designed for a single person.
It consisted of two main parts: the landing module, where Gagarin sat, and an instrumentation module, which was detached during re-entry.
The capsule was equipped with life-support systems, a small window, and control instruments.
Significance of the flight:
On April 12, 1961, Gagarin launched with the Vostok 1 rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and orbited the Earth in 108 minutes.
He reported from space the famous word “Поехали!” (Let’s go!) – a symbol for the beginning of the human space age.
After re-entry, Gagarin parachuted out of the capsule, as the Vostok was not designed for a soft landing.
The photo documents a milestone in space history, symbolizing the Soviet Union’s lead in the space race at the time and laying the groundwork for future manned missions.