First Human in Space

First Human in Space

Credit: ESA/alldayru.com

On 12 April 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space, launched into orbit on the Vostok 3KA-3 spacecraft (Vostok 1).

Space Pioneers: Gagarin and Korolev

Space Pioneers: Gagarin and Korolev

Credit: RSC Energia

The first human ever to fly in space, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (left), meets with spacecraft designer Sergei Korolev.

Vostok 3KA-3 Spacecraft

Vostok 3KA-3 Spacecraft

Credit: ESA

The Vostok 3KA-3 spacecraft (Vostok 1) awaits the launch of Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961, which would make him the first human to travel into space.

Yuri Gagarin: First Man in Space (Infographic)

Yuri Gagarin: First Man in Space (Infographic)

Credit: Karl Tate/SPACE.com

On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the world's first space traveler. See how the first human spaceflight worked with this Space.com infographic.

History's First Human Spaceflight Blasts Off

History's First Human Spaceflight Blasts Off

Credit: NASA

The Soviet Union's powerful Vostok launch vehicle put cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's capsule high enough for one 108-minute orbit of the Earth on April 12, 1961.

Family Man

Family Man

Credit: ESA/alldayru.com

Famed Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin is seen here with daughters Yelena and Galina in an undated photo. On April 12, 1961, Gagarin became the first human to travel into space, launched into orbit on the Vostok 3KA-3 spacecraft (Vostok 1).

Looking Up

Looking Up

Credit: Valentina Mikhno via Russian Federal Space Agency/Roscosmos

Famed Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin - the first human in space - and others pose for a photo with a model of a winged spacecraft.

Vostok Up Close

Vostok Up Close

Credit: RSC Energia

This photo released by spacecraft manufacturer RSC Energia shows the Vostok spacecraft. On April 12, 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin launched into orbit on Vostok 1 to become the first human to fly in space.

Dressing in Layers

Dressing in Layers

Credit: alldayru.com

Yuri Gagarin seen dressing in a heating/cooling garment worn under his orange pressure suit.

Walking to the Launch Pad

Walking to the Launch Pad

Credit: RSC Energia

Famed Russian spacecraft S. P. Korolev (in fedora hat) and Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin walk to the launch pad on April 12, 1961 ahead of the launch of Vostok 1, which would become the first manned spaceship to send a human into space.

Almost to the Pad

Almost to the Pad

Credit: RSC Energia

Russian spacecraft designer S. P. Korolev (partially obscured, in fedora hat) and cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin approach the launch pad ahead of the April 12, 1961 launch of Vostok 1, the first human spaceflight.

Waving to the Crowd

Waving to the Crowd

Credit: RSC Energia

Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin prepares to board the Vostok 1 spacecraft on April 12, 1961 to make history's first human spaceflight.

Getting in the Spacecraft

Getting in the Spacecraft

Credit: Evgeny A. Sivukhin via Russian Federal Space Agency/Roscosmos

In this collage of photos posted by Russia's Federal Space Agency, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin has arrived at the Vostok 1 spacecraft, and climbs inside ahead of the April 12, 1961 launch that made him the first human in space.

Re-entry Capsule of Vostok 1

Re-entry Capsule of Vostok 1

Credit: ESA

Here the re-entry capsule of the Vostok 3KA-3 (also known as Vostok 1) spacecraft (Vostok 1) is seen with charring and its parachute on the ground after landing south west of Engels, in the Saratov region of southern Russia.

Yuri Gagarin, First Human in Space

Yuri Gagarin, First Human in Space

Credit: NASA

On April 12, 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (left, on the way to the launch pad) made the first human spaceflight, a 108-minute orbital journey in his Vostok 1 spacecraft. Newspapers like The Huntsville Times (right) trumpeted Gagarin's accomplishment.

NASA Reacts to Vostok 1

NASA Reacts to Vostok 1

Credit: NASA

After the successful spaceflight of Yuri Gagarin, the first person to fly in space, as well as orbit Earth, on April 12, 1961 NASA held a press conference at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC to respond to questions concerning Gagarin's flight and the status of the American space program. From left to right: Dr. Robert C. Seamans Jr., Associate Administrator; Dr. Hugh L. Dryden, Deputy Administrator; Mr. James E. Webb, Administrator; and Dr. Abe Silverstein, Director of Space Flight Programs.

Gagarin as He Was, Playing Pool

Gagarin as He Was, Playing Pool

Credit: RSC Energia

In a lighter moment, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin - the first human to fly in space - poses for a photo while playing billiards.

Gagarin in Sri Lanka

Gagarin in Sri Lanka

Credit: Embassy of Russia at Sri Lanka via Russian Federal Space Agency/Roscosmos

This collage of photos from Russia's Federal Space Agency shows cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin receiving honors in Sri Lanka.

Signing Autographs

Signing Autographs

Credit: Andreas Veize via Russian Federal Space Agency/Roscosmos

Famed cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin signs autographs in 1963, two years after becoming the first human to fly in space on April 12, 1961.

Yuri Gagarin

Yuri Gagarin

Credit: S.P. Korolev RSC "Energia"

Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space.

Before His Last Take-off

Before His Last Take-off

Credit: RSC Energia

In 1968, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin trained for another space mission, but was killed in a plane crash before doing so. Here, Gagarin is shown just before that flight in a photo released by the Russian aerospace firm RSC Energia.

Gone but Not Forgotten

Gone but Not Forgotten

Credit: ESA

Jean-François Clervoy, ESA astronaut, said, "On the STS-84 mission of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, in May 1997, I stayed nearly five days on the Russian Mir space station. When you enter of the core module of Mir, you could not be unaware of the photo of Gagarin."

Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre

Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre

Credit: ESA/André Kuipers

The training center for cosmonauts named after first man in space Yuri Gagarin is located in Star City, about 30 kilometers north of Moscow.

Yuri Gagarin in Stamp Form

Yuri Gagarin in Stamp Form

Credit: Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos)

The legacy cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and his historic launch on April 12, 1961, ushering in the era of human spaceflight, continues today. This year, Russia is releasing these commemorative stamps to honor Gagarin's 108-minute orbital flight.

Reaching for the Stars

Reaching for the Stars

Credit: Victor Zelentsov/NASA

A larger-than-life statue of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin with his arms stretched toward the heavens stands at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, the launch site of his historic April 12, 1961 spaceflight, making him the first human in space. Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin (left), NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria (right) and space tourist Anousheh Ansari pose with Gagarin's statue on Sept. 13, 2006 while training for a launch toward the International Space Station.

Monument to Spaceflight

Monument to Spaceflight

Credit: NASA

A monument in honor of cosmonaut Yuriy A. Gagarin, the first human to fly in space, stands in front of a cosmonaut apartment building at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia.

Yuri Gagarin on the Space Station

Yuri Gagarin on the Space Station

Credit: NASA

In 2001, Russian cosmonauts Yuri V. Lonchakov and Yury V. Usachev hold a photo of the late cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin for a photo aboard the International Space Station to mark the 40th anniversary of Gagarin's spaceflight on April 12, 1961.

Astronaut Ron Garan with booster for "Yuri Gagarin" Soyuz spacecraft

Astronaut Ron Garan with booster for

Credit: NASA

NASA astronaut Ron Garan poses in front of the booster for the "Yuri Gagarin" Soyuz spacecraft that will carry him and two Russian cosmonauts to the International Space Station.

Soyuz Named For Yuri Gagarin Blasts Off

Soyuz Named For Yuri Gagarin Blasts Off

Credit: NASA TV

A Russian Soyuz TMA-21 spacecraft, named for famed cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin - the first human in space - launches from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on April 4, 2011 at 6:18 p.m. EDT.

Yuri Gagarin: Spaceman

Yuri Gagarin: Spaceman

Credit: ESA

On 12 April 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space when he launched into orbit on the Vostok 3KA-3 spacecraft (Vostok 1).