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Yuri Gagarin with
his fellow students at industrial college
1951-1955. Saratov Industrial College. When Gagarin graduated,
it was only six years before his spaceflight, and only two
years before the launch of the Earth's first artificial satellite
("Sputnik"). |
Gagarin with his
fellow pilot trainees at Saratov flying club with a YaK-18
airplane in the background
1954. That year the decision was made to develop the first
Soviet long-range intercontinental ballistic missile R-7.
This rocket, developed under direction of S.P.Korolev by the
Special Design Bureau No.1 (today this organization is known
as S.P.Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia) would
make Gagarin known all over the world. |
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Parachute-jumping
training
1960. Yu.A.Gagarin began his training
as a member of the first Soviet cosmonaut corps. |
Vostok spacecraft
being prepared for Yu.A.Gagarin's flight at the manufacturing
facility of the
Special Design Bureau No.1
March 1961 |
Yu.A.Gagarin tries
on the first space suit
1960. Preparations to launch a manned Vostok spacecraft are
well under way
in the Soviet Union. |
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Yu.A. Gagarin
undergoes
a thorough medical examination
1960. Since nobody knew what was in store for the first man
in space, the requirements to the health of a cosmonaut were
extremely high. |
Yu.A.Gagarin before
getting
on board Vostok spacecraft
April 12, 1961. Baikonur launch site.
The Mankind's first obit
in space lies just ahead. |
Chief Designer
of rocket and space systems,
academician S.P.Korolev talks with
would-be cosmonauts Yu.Gagarin,
P.Popovich, V.Bykovsky,
and A.Nikolaev
1960. S.P.Korolev always won people over with his single-mindedness
and indomitable faith in the need to pursue
the manned exploration of space. |
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Yu.Gagarin, his
back-up G.Titov
and members of the first cosmonaut corps
April 12, 1961. Baikonur launch site.
Cosmonauts on their way to the first manned launch into space. |
S.P.Korolev at
the command post
in the Baikonur launching facility control bunker
April 12, 1961.
9 hours 06 minutes 59.7 seconds.
Have a good flight! |
S.P.Korolev and
Yu.A.Gagarin
at the launch pad
April 12, 1961. Baikonur launch site.
In a few hours, people all over
the world would come to know
the name of Yuri Gagarin. |
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