Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (9 March 1934 - 27 March 1968) - a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut - was the first human being to travel into outer space. Fifty years ago, on April 12, 1961, the Vostok 1 spacecraft completed the orbit of the Earth. The journey lasted 108 minutes.
Upon his safe return to Earth, Gagarin was celebrated as the greatest man in human history not only in the former Soviet Union, but worldwide and was allowed by the authorities to visit many countries to promote the Soviet achievement in space. Gagarin's flight marked the beginning of a new era in space exploration.
Upon his safe return to Earth, Gagarin was celebrated as the greatest man in human history not only in the former Soviet Union, but worldwide and was allowed by the authorities to visit many countries to promote the Soviet achievement in space. Gagarin's flight marked the beginning of a new era in space exploration.
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