After success in the space mission, Yuri Gagarin became an overnight star.
Yuri Alexeyevich Gagarin is known as a legend in the history of space exploration. He was the first person who entered the Earth’s orbit and presented the immense possibilities of space to humanity. He was born on 9 March 1934 in the village of Clushino in the Smolansk region of Russia. The end of Gagarin’s life was very painful when he lost his life in a plane crash held on 27 March 1968. Gagarin’s life and his achievements are inspiring not only for the then Soviet Union or Russia, but for the whole world.
Gagarin was born in a farmer family
Yuri Gagarin was born in an ordinary farmer family. His father Alexei Ivanovich was a carpenter, and mother Anna Timophyevna was a dairy farmer. One of the 4 children of his parents, Yuri Gagarin’s childhood was full of poverty and difficulties. During World War II, the Nazi army captured his village and during this time his difficulties increased further. This difficult time is believed to have strengthened the determination and courage in them.
After the war, Yuri Gagarin resumed his studies. He was attracted to technical education and enrolled in the Industrial Technical School in Saratov in 1951. It was here that he started flight training, which proved to be the turning point of his life. In 1955, he entered the Military Flight Training School in Orenburg to join the Soviet Air Force and became a skilled pilot. Yuri Gagarin came in contact with Valentina during training and got married a few days later.
Yuri Gagarin with his wife Valentina.
And Yuri Gagarin became an astronaut
In the 1950s and 1960s, the space race between the US and the Soviet Union was at its peak. The Soviet Union planned to send the first human space, and for this 20 possible astronauts including Gagarin were selected. Gagarin’s physical fitness, small height (5 feet 2 inches), and mental firmness made him an ideal candidate for this mission. His positive thinking and the habit of smiling under any circumstances also impressed the selectors.
After long training, on 12 April 1961, Gagarin was selected for space in the Vostok-1 spacecraft. This mission was historic, because no one had gone to human space before that.
‘Earth is blue, how beautiful it is!’
On 12 April 1961 at 9:07 am (according to Moscow), Gagarin flew from Baikonoor Cosmodrome. On this occasion, he ‘Poyikhali!’ (Let’s go!) Said and his style is still remembered today. Vostok-1 revolted to the Earth, which lasted for 108 minutes. During this time, Gagarin saw the earth from space and said, ‘Earth is blue, how beautiful it is!’ This mission was technically risky, but Gagarin’s courage and the hard work of Soviet scientists made it successful. After executing the mission, he safely descended from the parachute in the Saratov region.
Gagarin could not go into space again
The flight gave the Soviet Union a big lead over the US in the space race and made Gagarin a global hero. He was awarded honors like ‘Hero of Soviet Union’ and ‘Lenin Order’. After the space mission, Gagarin became world famous overnight. He visited several countries, where he received a grand welcome. He also came to India in 1961 and met people. The Soviet government did not send him to space again, as they did not want to put their lives at risk. Instead, Gagarin contributed to the training of astronauts and continued his service in the Airforce.
… And the end of a beautiful story
On 27 March 1968, Gagarin was with his instructor Vladimir Serogin in the MiG-15 aircraft during a regular training flight. His plane crashed due to unknown reasons and both died tragic. The investigation of this accident revealed many principles, such as bad weather or technical fault, but the exact reason could not be clear till date. The Yuri Gagarin, who did not want to send the Sovit Sangh government to the space mission because his life was not threatened, he died in a plane crash. This incident shocked the whole world.
Yuri Gagarin’s life teaches a lot
The achievement of Yuri Gagarin opened the doors of space exploration for the entire mankind. Many monuments, roads, and awards were announced in his name. Every year 12 April is celebrated as ‘Yuri Night’. They remain a symbol of courage, curiosity and the possibilities of humanity. Gagarin’s life teaches that even extraordinary achievements can be achieved from a simple beginning. His story still inspires the youth to dream and fulfill them.
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