Photo location: Baikonur Cosmodrome (then Tyuratam) in Kazakhstan — preparation for Yuri Gagarin’s first manned space flight on April 12, 1961.

Yuri Gagarin before space flight. Significance of the flight:
On April 12, 1961, Gagarin launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard the Vostok-1 rocket and orbited the Earth in 108 minutes.
He transmitted from space the famous words “Поехали!” (Let’s go!) — a symbol for the beginning of human space exploration.
After re-entry, Gagarin ejected from the capsule with a parachute, as the Vostok was not designed for a gentle landing.
This photograph documents a milestone in space history, symbolizing the Soviet Union’s superiority in the space race at that time and laying the foundation for future manned missions.