April 12, 1961Reputable sourceWell documented
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
On the timeline · around April 12, 1961 ·
What happened
Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited Earth once aboard Vostok 1 in a 108-minute flight before parachuting to a landing.
Why it matters
The first time our species left the planet — still among the most famous flights in history.
Sources
- NASA GSFC. Yuri Gagarin (StarChild biography) · Reputable source