Timeline event · 12 April 1961 · The Space Race
Gagarin Becomes the First Human in Space
Yuri Gagarin orbits the Earth once aboard Vostok 1, becoming the first human in space and the first to orbit the planet.
Highlights
- ›The first human being in space
Missions, people & worlds
Knowledge connections
- Part ofThe Space Race
- Associated withVostok 1
- Associated withYuri Gagarin
- Associated withRoscosmos
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.