Yuri Gagarin

1934 – 1968

Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who on 12 April 1961 became the first human to journey into outer space, completing a single orbit of Earth aboard Vostok 1 in 108 minutes. The achievement made him an international celebrity overnight and a defining propaganda victory for the Soviet Union in the early Space Race. He was killed in a routine training flight in a MiG-15UTI on 27 March 1968 at the age of 34.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM