Yuri Gagarin
March 9, 1934 – March 27, 1968
Yuri Gagarin (1934–1968) was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first person to journey into outer space. Launched from Baikonur on Vostok 1 on 12 April 1961, he completed one orbit of Earth in 108 minutes, becoming an international celebrity and receiving the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
Biography
Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut. On 12 April 1961, aboard Vostok 1, he became the first person to travel into space and orbit the Earth, a flight of 108 minutes.
The flight was a major Soviet victory in the Space Race and made him a world celebrity. He later trained other cosmonauts and died in 1968 when his MiG-15 jet crashed during a training flight.
Affiliations
Party membership
- from Jan 1, 1960 Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Education
- Sep 1, 1960 – Feb 17, 1968 Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy Correspondence course; graduated cum laude 17 February 1968
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