On This Day, 62 Years Ago, Yuri Gagarin Became The First Human To Step Into Space

Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to venture into space on April 12, 1961.

What Happened: Gagarin achieved many firsts on that day — including becoming the first person to orbit the Earth and emerging as the very first Soviet cosmonaut. 

The Cosmonaut took off at 6:07 UTC from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site No.1, according to the European Space Agency's website.

After reaching space, Gagarin said over the radio, "The craft is operating normally. I can see Earth in the view port of the Vzor. Everything is proceeding as planned."

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On re-entry, Gagarin walked out of the spacecraft in a bright orange suit and a large white helmet, according to the ESA, and was seen by a farmer and his daughter.

"When they saw me in my spacesuit and the parachute dragging alongside as I walked, they started to back away in fear. I told them, ‘Don’t be afraid, I am a Soviet like you, who has descended from space and I must find a telephone to call Moscow!'"

Why It Matters: Gagarin's mission to space was called Vostok 1 after the Russian word for East. The Vostok series of spacecraft made six crewed flights between 1961 and 1963. 

These rockets could accommodate single pilots initially but were later modified to accommodate up to three crew members.

Gagarin passed away in 1968 in a jet crash after a Mig-15 that he and his instructor Vladimir Seryogin were piloting crashed during a routine training flight outside Moscow, reported Space.com.

The Soviet Cosmonaut paved the way for manned exploration of space as humanity prepares to step foot once again on the Moon and on the Red Planet.

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