This day 50 years ago…

By: Manas Chaturvedi

 

12th April, 1961

On 12 April 1961, aboard the Vostok 3KA-3 (Vostok 1), Gagarin became both the first human to travel into space, and the first to orbit the earth. His call sign was Kedr.

In his post-flight report, Gagarin recalled his experience of spaceflight, having been the first human in space:

“The feeling of weightlessness was somewhat unfamiliar compared with Earth conditions. Here, you feel as if you were hanging in a horizontal position in straps. You feel as if you are suspended.”

Although 50 years later, a journey in space is insignificant for many, Yuri Gagarin did what was once stated as impossible on 12th April exactly 50 years ago.  Thousands may have ventured into space in the span of those 50 years, but Yuri Gagarin’s name will forever be engraved in the pages of history!