Yuri Gagarin before Spaceflight 1961 8

Description

Yuri Gagarin before spaceflight, photo; Licensed article; Original: 5740×4315; Photographer: Unknown; royalty required; Rights: a9 Bleek/zb Media. 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.
From space, he reported the famous word “Поехали!” (Let’s go!) – a symbol of the beginning of the human space age.
After re-entry, Gagarin parachuted from the capsule since 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 foundation for future manned missions.