To millions, Russia's first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin is a legend: a carpenter's son who ascended into the heavens and returned. Yuri Gagarin flew around the Earth, becoming the first man in outer space. To those that knew him however, he was a talented, handsome and athletic man who despite his modesty, was destined for greatness. Nevertheless, while his cult of personality spread throughout the Soviet Union, Yuri himself remained devoted to his cockpit. See archival footage of the first human spaceflight and find out more about the legendary cosmonaut’s life.
