Historical background
On 12 April 1961, a great moment in human history took place – the first human space flight. The Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin lifted off from the Baikonour Cosmodrome at 9.00 a.m. and landed near Engels on the Volga after a complete orbit of the Earth. This film clip shows the arrival at the launch pad and the boarding of the Vostok spacecraft.
Yuri Gagarin was the first man to fly into space when his Vostok spacecraft reached orbit around the Earth on 12 April 1961. Gagarin’s flight marked a significant milestone in space exploration and made him an international hero. His achievement paved the way for further human exploration of space and inspired generations of astronauts and cosmonauts. In the USA, the new Soviet space success was perceived as a threat, similar to the Sputnik shock.
Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union in the early years of the space race, invested in civilian space travel for several reasons:
The space race was as much about political and ideological competition as it was about scientific achievement. Khrushchev saw space exploration as a means of demonstrating the Soviet Union’s technological capabilities and proving the superiority of communism over capitalism. The achievements in space were used as a propaganda tool to strengthen the image of the Soviet Union on the world stage.
The investment in space exploration required advances in various fields such as rocketry, materials science, electronics and computer technology. These advances had numerous civilian applications beyond space exploration, including telecommunications, weather forecasting and remote sensing. The same rocket technology used to launch satellites and cosmonauts into space could also be used for military purposes such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Khrushchev was aware of the strategic importance of a strong space programme to keep pace with the United States in terms of military capabilities and deterrence.
Its successes in space exploration strengthened the Soviet Union’s influence in the international community and enabled Khrushchev to pursue diplomatic goals. It provided opportunities for co-operation with other countries and demonstrated Soviet leadership in science and technology.
