The first man in outer space, Yuri Gagarin, was born on March 9, 1934. Gagarin entered history on April 12, 1961 when the spacecraft "Vostok-1" with the Soviet cosmonaut on board was launched from the Baikonur space center. Sputnik presents you a photo gallery with unknown facts about the legend of space exploration.
© Sputnik / Sverdlov / Go to the mediabankThe flight of "Vostok-1" was absolutely automatic as nobody could give a guarantee that the cosmonaut would be able to work in the conditions of weightlessness. Gagarin was given a special code that allowed activation of manual controls of the spaceship in an emergency situation.
Above: Yuri Gagarin in engineering laboratory of Cosmonaut training center, Star City, 1964.
Above: Yuri Gagarin in engineering laboratory of Cosmonaut training center, Star City, 1964.
![10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin 10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101925/01/1019250185_0:0:2790:2047_600x0_80_0_1_f725b480b96a6f787091eff99e8ea5b1.jpg)
The flight of "Vostok-1" was absolutely automatic as nobody could give a guarantee that the cosmonaut would be able to work in the conditions of weightlessness. Gagarin was given a special code that allowed activation of manual controls of the spaceship in an emergency situation.
Above: Yuri Gagarin in engineering laboratory of Cosmonaut training center, Star City, 1964.
Above: Yuri Gagarin in engineering laboratory of Cosmonaut training center, Star City, 1964.
© Sputnik / Go to the mediabankThree variants of the Soviet news agency's report on the first manned flight into space were prepared. The first - in case of success of the mission; the second - if the spacecraft did not go into orbit and falls somewhere in a forest or an ocean (this news contained a call for help to find the cosmonaut); the third - about the tragic death of the first cosmonaut.
Above: Yuri Gagarin bidding farewell to friends before flying to space. A still from the film "10 Years of the Space Exploration Era."
Above: Yuri Gagarin bidding farewell to friends before flying to space. A still from the film "10 Years of the Space Exploration Era."
![Yuri Gagarin bidding farewell to friends before flying to space. A still from the film 10 Years of the Space Exploration Era Yuri Gagarin bidding farewell to friends before flying to space. A still from the film 10 Years of the Space Exploration Era - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101925/29/1019252989_0:0:2639:2048_600x0_80_0_1_a6630673693e7405b3b454117d540da8.jpg)
Three variants of the Soviet news agency's report on the first manned flight into space were prepared. The first - in case of success of the mission; the second - if the spacecraft did not go into orbit and falls somewhere in a forest or an ocean (this news contained a call for help to find the cosmonaut); the third - about the tragic death of the first cosmonaut.
Above: Yuri Gagarin bidding farewell to friends before flying to space. A still from the film "10 Years of the Space Exploration Era."
Above: Yuri Gagarin bidding farewell to friends before flying to space. A still from the film "10 Years of the Space Exploration Era."
© Sputnik / Go to the mediabankGagarin launched from the Baikonur space center at the rank of lieutenant and landed being the most famous major in the world.
![10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin 10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101925/03/1019250397_0:0:1742:1898_600x0_80_0_1_4dc14cb1248e293536942d23cab06fb0.jpg)
Gagarin launched from the Baikonur space center at the rank of lieutenant and landed being the most famous major in the world.
© Sputnik / Yuryi Abramochkin / Go to the mediabankTwo days before his flight, Yuri Gagarin wrote a farewell letter to his wife in case of an accident. Gagarin's wife Valentina received this letter not in 1961, but after a flight accident in 1968 that claimed the life of her husband.
Above: Yuri Gagarin with his wife Valentina.
Above: Yuri Gagarin with his wife Valentina.
![10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin 10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101925/10/1019251005_0:0:2510:2045_600x0_80_0_1_52e37ccb4ee3a69e9b1d295a684eed4f.jpg)
Two days before his flight, Yuri Gagarin wrote a farewell letter to his wife in case of an accident. Gagarin's wife Valentina received this letter not in 1961, but after a flight accident in 1968 that claimed the life of her husband.
Above: Yuri Gagarin with his wife Valentina.
Above: Yuri Gagarin with his wife Valentina.
© AP PhotoAlthough Gagarin was one of the ideals of a Soviet person, he was a believer and offered to restore the ruined Temple of Christ the Savior, speaking at a meeting of the Central Committee in 1964.
Above: Yuri Gagarin waves after he arrived at the London Airport, July 1, 1961 for a private visit as the guest of the Russian Trade fair.
Above: Yuri Gagarin waves after he arrived at the London Airport, July 1, 1961 for a private visit as the guest of the Russian Trade fair.
![10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin 10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101925/13/1019251317_0:0:2700:2191_600x0_80_0_1_1319a14fc8c92039af5e59740a35d4ad.jpg)
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© AP Photo
Although Gagarin was one of the ideals of a Soviet person, he was a believer and offered to restore the ruined Temple of Christ the Savior, speaking at a meeting of the Central Committee in 1964.
Above: Yuri Gagarin waves after he arrived at the London Airport, July 1, 1961 for a private visit as the guest of the Russian Trade fair.
Above: Yuri Gagarin waves after he arrived at the London Airport, July 1, 1961 for a private visit as the guest of the Russian Trade fair.
© AP Photo / Bob DearWhen Gagarin visited Britain, Queen Elizabeth II made a photo with the cosmonaut contrary to etiquette. She explained this move by saying that Gagarin was not an ordinary man, but a man from space.
Above: Major Yuri Gagarin holds a gold medal of the British Interplanetary Society after it was awarded to him at the Soviet exhibition in Earls court, London, United Kingdom on July 11, 1961.
Above: Major Yuri Gagarin holds a gold medal of the British Interplanetary Society after it was awarded to him at the Soviet exhibition in Earls court, London, United Kingdom on July 11, 1961.
![10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin 10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101925/05/1019250558_0:0:3000:2171_600x0_80_0_1_21897388f3ccf8de85cedaf000a0f569.jpg)
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© AP Photo / Bob Dear
When Gagarin visited Britain, Queen Elizabeth II made a photo with the cosmonaut contrary to etiquette. She explained this move by saying that Gagarin was not an ordinary man, but a man from space.
Above: Major Yuri Gagarin holds a gold medal of the British Interplanetary Society after it was awarded to him at the Soviet exhibition in Earls court, London, United Kingdom on July 11, 1961.
Above: Major Yuri Gagarin holds a gold medal of the British Interplanetary Society after it was awarded to him at the Soviet exhibition in Earls court, London, United Kingdom on July 11, 1961.
© Sputnik / Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankYuri Gagarin was a family man. He was married young and had two daughters. His younger daughter was born about a month before his historic flight.
Above: Yuri Gagarin playing with his daughters Galina and Yelena.
Above: Yuri Gagarin playing with his daughters Galina and Yelena.
![10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin 10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101924/91/1019249191_0:0:2021:2046_600x0_80_0_1_bf0c0f9371fb74b3fa2e06e8cf480472.jpg)
Yuri Gagarin was a family man. He was married young and had two daughters. His younger daughter was born about a month before his historic flight.
Above: Yuri Gagarin playing with his daughters Galina and Yelena.
Above: Yuri Gagarin playing with his daughters Galina and Yelena.
© Sputnik / Go to the mediabankWhen the cabin started to crackle in flames and melting metal was running over the illuminator, while entering the atmosphere, Gagarin really believed that his mission was ending.
Above: Yuri Gagarin before a space flight aboard the Vostok spacecraft, April 12, 1961.
Above: Yuri Gagarin before a space flight aboard the Vostok spacecraft, April 12, 1961.
![10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin 10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101924/99/1019249969_0:0:2422:2047_600x0_80_0_1_c8ae333b0e3628fe51a48f368ae78c9a.jpg)
When the cabin started to crackle in flames and melting metal was running over the illuminator, while entering the atmosphere, Gagarin really believed that his mission was ending.
Above: Yuri Gagarin before a space flight aboard the Vostok spacecraft, April 12, 1961.
Above: Yuri Gagarin before a space flight aboard the Vostok spacecraft, April 12, 1961.
© Sputnik / I. Snegirev / Go to the mediabankGagarin was born in the Smolensk Region, a territory that was occupied by the Nazis for over a year during WWII. This fact about the first man in outer space used to be a secret in the Soviet times.
Above: The USSR pilot-cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin with his mother Anna and father Alexey Gagarin.
Above: The USSR pilot-cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin with his mother Anna and father Alexey Gagarin.
![10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin 10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101924/93/1019249362_0:0:2118:1482_600x0_80_0_1_555e91c30c7f523d160aee89009ad263.jpg)
Gagarin was born in the Smolensk Region, a territory that was occupied by the Nazis for over a year during WWII. This fact about the first man in outer space used to be a secret in the Soviet times.
Above: The USSR pilot-cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin with his mother Anna and father Alexey Gagarin.
Above: The USSR pilot-cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin with his mother Anna and father Alexey Gagarin.
© Sputnik / Go to the mediabankThe selection of candidates for cosmonauts was carried out by an ad hoc group of experts. Psychologists noted the following character traits of Yuri Gagarin: "In sports games Yuri is a leader. His will to win, sense of purpose, spirit of competition, sense of team explain that. His favorite word is "work." He is self-confident in his skills. Gagarin is open-hearted, polite, tactful and punctual. He has excellent memory, high intellectual development. He will defend his point of view despite everything if he considers it a right thing."
Above: Yury Gagarin (left) meeting with British Labour politician Hugh Gaitskell.
Above: Yury Gagarin (left) meeting with British Labour politician Hugh Gaitskell.
![10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin 10 Facts You Didn't Know About First Man in Outer Space Yuri Gagarin - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101925/07/1019250793_0:0:2707:2047_600x0_80_0_1_601f1dc5a3c39d648be6861254eea959.jpg)
The selection of candidates for cosmonauts was carried out by an ad hoc group of experts. Psychologists noted the following character traits of Yuri Gagarin: "In sports games Yuri is a leader. His will to win, sense of purpose, spirit of competition, sense of team explain that. His favorite word is "work." He is self-confident in his skills. Gagarin is open-hearted, polite, tactful and punctual. He has excellent memory, high intellectual development. He will defend his point of view despite everything if he considers it a right thing."
Above: Yury Gagarin (left) meeting with British Labour politician Hugh Gaitskell.
Above: Yury Gagarin (left) meeting with British Labour politician Hugh Gaitskell.