Born on March 9, 1934, to Russian farmers, Yuri Gagarin worked as a foundry apprentice and attended a technical high school where he joined the “AeroClub.” In 1955, he began military flight training, graduating a few years later. By 1960, he was among 20 pilots selected for the first Soviet cosmonaut training group. His skill and popularity contributed to his selection as the first human to travel to space – as did his small stature (he was 5’2”), as there wasn’t much room in the Vostok capsule.
On April 12, 1961, Gagarin piloted Vostok 1 to space, making a single, 108-minute orbit before ejecting and parachuting to the ground. He immediately became a celebrity, embarking on global tours and becoming the deputy training director for cosmonauts. Though the government didn’t want to risk their national hero and banned him from returning to space, Gagarin died in a jet crash during a training flight on March 27, 1968. He was 34.
