# Yuri Gagarin in space (1961)

URL: https://history-russia.com/timeline/1961-yuri-gagarin-in-space
Categories: main-event

Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth in Vostok 1 on 12 April 1961, a flight of 108 minutes. He became a global hero. 12 April is celebrated as Cosmonautics Day. Gagarin's flight was the greatest Soviet triumph in the Space Race.

## Why it matters
Gagarin's flight was the greatest Soviet triumph in the Space Race.

Ruler at the time: [Nikita Khrushchev](https://history-russia.com/rulers/nikita-khrushchev)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Yuri Gagarin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Gagarin)
- [Wikipedia — Vostok 1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vostok_1)
- [Wikipedia — Khrushchev thaw](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khrushchev_thaw)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Yuri Gagarin in space](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Yuri+Gagarin+in+space)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of Russian history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Russian_history)