Gagarin, Yuri
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{{Infobox Astronaut | {{Infobox Astronaut | ||
− | | name = Yuri Gagarin <br/> Юрий Гагарин | + | | name = Yuri Gagarin <br /> Юрий Гагарин |
− | | image = Yuri Gagarin official | + | | image = Yuri Gagarin official portrait.jpg |
| type = Cosmonaut | | type = Cosmonaut | ||
− | | nationality = | + | | nationality =[[Russian people|Russian]] |
| status = Deceased | | status = Deceased | ||
| date_birth ={{birth date|1934|3|9}} | | date_birth ={{birth date|1934|3|9}} | ||
| date_death ={{death date and age|1968|3|27|1934|3|9}} | | date_death ={{death date and age|1968|3|27|1934|3|9}} | ||
− | | place_birth = | + | | place_birth =[[Klushino]], [[Soviet Union|USSR]] |
− | | place_death = | + | | place_death = [[Kirzhach]], USSR |
| occupation =[[Aviator|Pilot]] | | occupation =[[Aviator|Pilot]] | ||
| rank =[[Polkovnik]], [[Soviet Air Force]] | | rank =[[Polkovnik]], [[Soviet Air Force]] | ||
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}} | }} | ||
− | '''Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin''' ({{lang-ru|Ю́рий Алексе́евич Гага́рин}}, '' | + | '''Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin''', ({{lang-ru|Ю́рий Алексе́евич Гага́рин}}, ''Jurij Aleksejevič Gagarin'' {{IPA-ru|ˈjurʲɪj ɐlʲɪˈksʲeɪvʲɪtɕ gɐˈgarʲɪn}}; [[9 March]] [[1934]] – [[27 March]] [[1968]]), [[Hero of the Soviet Union]], was a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[cosmonaut]]. On [[12 April]] [[1961]], he became the first human in space and the first to orbit the [[Earth]]. He received many medals from different countries for his pioneering tour in [[outer space]]. |
== Early life == | == Early life == | ||
− | Yuri Gagarin was born in the village of [[Klushino]] near [[Gzhatsk]] (now in [[Smolensk Oblast]], [[Russia]]), on [[9 March]] [[1934]]. The adjacent town of Gzhatsk was renamed [[Gagarin (town)|Gagarin]] in | + | Yuri Gagarin was born in the village of [[Klushino]] near [[Gzhatsk]] (now in [[Smolensk Oblast]], [[Russia]]), on [[9 March]] [[1934]]. The adjacent town of Gzhatsk was renamed [[Gagarin (town)|Gagarin]] in 1968 in his honor. His parents, father Alexei Ivanovich Gagarin and mother Anna Timofeevna Gagarina, worked on a [[collective farm]].<ref name="time2006">{{cite web |url=http://www.time.com/time/europe/hero2006/gagarin.html |title=Yuri Gagarin |work=Time Europe ''via '' Time.com |first=Dennis |last=Tito |date=2006-11-13 |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> While manual laborers are described in official reports as "peasants", this may be an oversimplification if applied to his parents — his mother was reportedly a voracious reader, and his father a skilled [[carpenter]]. Yuri was the third of four children, and his elder sister helped raise him while his parents worked. Like millions of people in the [[Soviet Union]], the Gagarin family suffered during Nazi occupation in [[World War II]]. His two elder siblings were sent to [[Germany]] as slave laborers in 1943, and did not return until after the war. While a youth, Yuri became interested in space and planets, and began to dream about his space tour which became true one day.<ref name="war years">{{cite book |title=Into That Silent Sea: Trailblazers of the Space Era, 1961-1965 |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |location=[[Lincoln, Nebraska|Lincoln]] |author=[[Francis French|French, Francis]]; [[Colin Burgess (author)|Burgess, Colin]] |pages=p. 2 |year=2007 |isbn=0803211465 |oclc=71210133}}</ref> Yuri was described by his teachers in the Moscow satellite town of [[Lyubertsy]] as intelligent and hard-working, if occasionally mischievous. His mathematics and science teacher had flown in the [[Soviet Air Forces]] during the war, which presumably made some substantial impression on young Gagarin. |
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− | Yuri was described by his teachers as intelligent and hard-working, if occasionally mischievous. His mathematics and science teacher had flown in the [[Soviet Air Forces]] during the war, which presumably made some substantial impression on young Gagarin. | ||
− | After starting an apprenticeship in a metalworks as a foundryman, Gagarin was selected for further training at a technical high school in [[Saratov]]. While there, he joined the "AeroClub", and learned to fly a light aircraft, a hobby that would take up an increasing proportion of his time. Through dint of effort, rather than brilliance, he reportedly mastered both; in | + | After starting an apprenticeship in a metalworks as a foundryman, Gagarin was selected for further training at a technical high school in [[Saratov]]. While there, he joined the "AeroClub", and learned to fly a light aircraft, a hobby that would take up an increasing proportion of his time. Through dint of effort, rather than brilliance, he reportedly mastered both; in 1955, after completing his technical schooling, he entered military flight training at the [[Orenburg]] Pilot's School. While there he met [[Valentina Goryacheva]], whom he married in 1957, after gaining his pilot's wings in a [[MiG-15]]. Post-graduation, he was assigned to [[Luostari]] airbase in [[Murmansk Oblast]], close to the [[Norway|Norwegian border]], where terrible weather made flying risky. As a full-grown man, Gagarin was 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) tall, which was an advantage in the small [[Vostok spacecraft|Vostok]] [[cockpit]].<ref Name="time2006" /> He became [[Lieutenant]] of the [[Soviet Air Force]] on [[November 5]], [[1957]] and on [[November 6]], [[1959]] he received the rank of Senior Lieutenant.<ref name="astro">{{ru icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.astronaut.ru/as_rusia/vvs/text/gagarin.htm |title=Юрий Алексеевич Гагарин |work=Astronaut.ru |date=2007-07-11 |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> |
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== Career in the Soviet space program == | == Career in the Soviet space program == | ||
=== Selection and training === | === Selection and training === | ||
− | In | + | In 1960, after an extensive search and selection process Yuri Gagarin was selected with 19 other cosmonauts for the [[Soviet space program]]. Along with the other prospective cosmonauts, he was subjected to a rigorous series of experiments designed to test his physical and psychological endurance; he also underwent intensive training for the upcoming flight. Out of the twenty selected, the eventual choices for the first launch were Gagarin and [[Gherman Titov]] because of their excellent performance in training, as well as their physical characteristics — space was at a premium in the small [[Vostok spacecraft|Vostok]] cockpit and both men were rather short. Gagarin's last-minute assignment, approved at the highest levels of the [[CPSU]], to take the historic flight, may have been due to Gagarin's modest upbringing and genial, outgoing personality, as opposed to the middle-class and somewhat aloof demeanor of Titov. {{Fact|date=May 2008}} {{POV-statement|date=May 2008}} Soviet officials weighed other factors as well in selecting Yuri: his appearance, his capacity to handle media attention, his Russian heritage and even the name "[[Gagarin family|Gagarin]]," which was also a family name associated with Tsarist aristocracy. |
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+ | [[Image:Monument to Yuri Gagarin in Moscow.jpg|thumb|left|100px|40-meter titanium monument to Yuri Gagarin in Moscow, Gagarin Square]] | ||
+ | [[Image:Gagarin space suite.jpg|thumb|Gagarin in his space suit]] | ||
=== Space flight === | === Space flight === | ||
− | + | On [[12 April]] [[1961]], Gagarin became the first human to travel into [[outer space|space]] in ''Vostok 3KA-2'' ([[Vostok 1]]) and return. His call sign in this flight was Kedr ([[Siberian Pine|Cedar]]) ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Кедр).<ref name="Wade">{{cite web |url=http://www.astronautix.com/astros/gagarin.htm |title=Gagarin |work=Astronautix.com |date=2007-11-17 |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> During his flight, Gagarin famously whistled the tune "The Motherland Hears, The Motherland Knows" ([[Russian language|Russian]]: "Родина слышит, Родина знает").<ref name="autobiography">{{ru icon}} {{cite web |url=http://epizodsspace.testpilot.ru/bibl/gagarin/doroga/obl.html |title=Дорога в космос |work=Pravda ''via'' TestPilot.ru |first=Юрий |last=Гагарин |date=2004-12-03 |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref><ref name="sovmusic-download">{{cite web |url=http://www.sovmusic.ru/english/download.php?fname=rodinasl |title=Motherland Hears (download) |work=SovMusic.ru |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> The first two lines of the song are: "''The Motherland hears, the Motherland knows/Where her son flies in the sky''".<ref name="sovmusic-text">{{cite web |url=http://www.sovmusic.ru/english/text.php?fname=rodinasl |title=Motherland Hears (lyrics) |work=SovMusic.ru |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> This patriotic song was written by [[Dmitri Shostakovich]] in 1951 (opus 86), with words by [[Yevgeniy Dolmatovsky]]. | |
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− | On [[12 April]] [[1961]], Gagarin became the first human to travel into [[outer space|space]] in ''Vostok 3KA-2'' ([[Vostok 1]]). His call sign in this flight was Kedr ([[Siberian Pine|Cedar]]) ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Кедр).<ref name=Wade> | ||
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− | There are speculations in the media that from orbit Gagarin made the comment, "I don't see any God up here." There are, however, no such words in the full verbatim record of Gagarin's conversations with the Earth during the spaceflight.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cosmoworld.ru/spaceencyclopedia/gagarin/index.shtml?doc10.html| title = | + | There are speculations in the media that from orbit Gagarin made the comment, "I don't see any God up here." There are, however, no such words in the full verbatim record of Gagarin's conversations with the Earth during the spaceflight.<ref name="cosmoworld">{{ru icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.cosmoworld.ru/spaceencyclopedia/gagarin/index.shtml?doc10.html |title=Полная стенограмма переговоров Юрия Гагарина с Землей с момента его посадки в корабль (за два часа до старта) до выхода корабля "Востока-1" из зоны радиоприема |work=Cosmoworld.ru |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> In a 2006 interview a close friend of Gagarin, [[Colonel]] Valentin Petrov, stated that Gagarin never said such words, and that the phrase originated from [[Nikita Khrushchev]]'s speech at the plenum of the [[Central Committee of the CPSU]], where the anti-religious propaganda was discussed. In a certain context Khrushchev said, "Gagarin flew into space, but didn't see any God there".<ref name="ir73">{{ru icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.interfax-religion.ru/orthodoxy/?act=interview&div=73&domain=1 |title=Я горжусь обвинениями в том, что ввел Юрия Гагарина в православие |work=Interfax-religion.ru |date=2006-04-12 |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> Colonel Petrov also said that Gagarin had been baptized into the [[Orthodox Church]] as a child. |
− | While in orbit Gagarin was promoted "in the field" from the rank of Senior [[Lieutenant]] to [[Major]] | + | While in orbit Gagarin was promoted "in the field" from the rank of Senior [[Lieutenant]] to [[Major]], and this was the rank at which [[TASS (USSR)|TASS]] announced him in its triumphant statement during the flight.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} |
− | Gagarin being safely returned, [[Nikita Khrushchev]] rushed to his side and Gagarin issued a statement praising the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] as the " | + | Gagarin being safely returned, [[Nikita Khrushchev]] rushed to his side and Gagarin issued a statement praising the [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union]] as the "organizer of all our victories". Khrushchev saw Gagarin's achievement as a vindication of his policy of strengthening the Soviet Union's missile forces at the expense of conventional arms. This policy antagonized the Soviet military establishment and contributed to Khrushchev's eventual downfall. |
− | After the flight, Gagarin became an instant, worldwide celebrity, touring widely with appearances in Italy, Germany, Canada, and Japan to promote the Soviet achievement. | + | ===Fame and later life=== |
+ | After the flight, Gagarin became an instant, worldwide celebrity, touring widely with appearances in Italy, Great Britain<ref name="">{{cite web |url=http://www.wcml.org.uk/people/yuri.htm |title=A Thaw in the Cold War |work=WCML.org.uk |first=John |last=Callow |date=2007-11-30 |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref>, Germany, Canada, and Japan to promote the Soviet achievement. | ||
− | In | + | In 1962, he began serving as a deputy to the [[Supreme Soviet]]. He later returned to [[Star City, Moscow|Star City]], the cosmonaut facility, where he worked on designs for a reusable spacecraft. Gagarin worked on these designs in Star City for 7 years. Gagarin became [[Lieutenant Colonel]] (or [[Podpolkovnik]]) of the [[Soviet Air Force]] on [[June 12]] [[1962]] and on [[November 6]] [[1963]] he received the rank of [[Colonel]] ([[Polkovnik]]) of the Soviet Air Force.<ref name="astro" /> Soviet officials tried to keep him away from any flights, being wary of losing their hero in an accident. Gagarin was backup pilot for [[Vladimir Komarov]] in the [[Soyuz 1]] flight. As Komarov's flight ended in a fatal crash, Gagarin was ultimately banned from the space program. |
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+ | [[Image:Gagarin-Seregin Memorial.jpg|thumb|Memorial at the location of the crash that killed Gagarin and Seregin]] | ||
== Death and legacy == | == Death and legacy == | ||
− | + | Gagarin then became deputy training director of Star City. At the same time, he began to requalify as a fighter pilot. On [[27 March]] [[1968]], he and his instructor died in a [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15|MiG-15UTI]] on a routine training flight near [[Kirzhach]]. It is not certain what caused the crash, but a 1986 inquest suggests that the turbulence from a [[Sukhoi Su-11|Su-11 'Fishpot-C']] interceptor using its [[Afterburner (engine)|afterburners]] may have caused Gagarin's plane to go out of control. Weather conditions were also poor, which may have contributed to the inability of Gagarin and the instructor to correct before they crashed. | |
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− | + | In his book, ''Two Sides of the Moon'', [[Alexei Leonov]] recounts that he was flying a helicopter in the same area that day when he heard "two loud booms in the distance." Corroborating the above hypothesis, his conclusion is that a Sukhoi jet (which he identifies as a [[Sukhoi Su-15|Su-15 'Flagon']]), flying below its minimum allowed altitude, "without realizing it because of the terrible weather conditions, passed within 10 or 20 meters of Yuri and Seregin's plane while breaking the sound barrier." The resulting turbulence would have sent the MiG into an uncontrolled spin. Leonov believes the first boom he heard was that of the jet breaking the sound barrier, and the second was Gagarin's plane crashing.<ref name="LeonovBook">{{cite book |title=Two Sides of the Moon |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |location=[[New York City|New York]] |first=Alexei |last=Leonov |coauthors=Scott, David |year=2004 |pages=p. 218 |isnb=0-312-30865-5 |oclc=56587777}}</ref> | |
− | + | A new theory, advanced by the original crash investigator in 2005, hypothesizes that a cabin vent was accidentally left open by the crew or the previous pilot, thus leading to [[oxygen deprivation]] and leaving the crew incapable of controlling the aircraft.<ref name="ScotlandSunday-GagarinInquiry">{{cite web |url=http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/world/Inquiry-promises-to-solve-Gagarin.2615429.jp |title=Inquiry promises to solve Gagarin death riddle |work=Scotland on Sunday |first=Ed |last=Holt |date=2005-04-03 |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> | |
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− | + | There were two [[commemorative coins of the Soviet Union|commemorative coins]] issued in the Soviet Union to commemorate 20th and 30th anniversaries of his flight: 1 [[ruble|rouble]] coin (1981, copper-nickel) and 3 rouble coin (1991, silver). In 2001, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Gagarin's flight, a series of four coins bearing his likeness was issued in [[Russia]]: 2 rouble coin (copper-nickel), 3 rouble coin (silver), 10 rouble coin (brass-copper, nickel), 100 rouble coin (silver).<ref name="cbr">{{ru icon}} {{cite web |url=http://www.cbr.ru/bank-notes_coins/base_of_memorable_coins/main.asp?IsDetal=0&Year=9&s_cat=1 |title=База данных по памятным и инвестиционным монетам |work=CBR.ru |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> | |
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− | There were two [[commemorative coins of the Soviet Union|commemorative coins]] issued in the Soviet Union to commemorate 20th and 30th anniversaries of his flight: 1 ruble coin (1981, copper-nickel) and 3 | ||
− | }}</ref> | ||
Gagarin is buried next to Seregin in the [[Kremlin Wall Necropolis|walls of the Kremlin]] on [[Red Square]]. | Gagarin is buried next to Seregin in the [[Kremlin Wall Necropolis|walls of the Kremlin]] on [[Red Square]]. | ||
− | On [[12 April]] [[2007]], the Kremlin vetoed a new investigation into the death of Gagarin. Some experts who had been involved in the original investigation had formulated a new theory, based on modern technology and investigative methods. Government officials said that they saw no reason to begin a new investigation. <ref>{{cite web| url = http://www. | + | On [[12 April]] [[2007]], the Kremlin vetoed a new investigation into the death of Gagarin. Some experts who had been involved in the original investigation had formulated a new theory, based on modern technology and investigative methods. Government officials said that they saw no reason to begin a new investigation.<ref name="belfast171">{{cite web |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/article2442171.ece |title=Kremlin vetoes new inquiry into mystery death of Yuri Gagarin |work=Belfast Telegraph |first=Andrew |last=Osborn |date=2007-04-12 |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> All found parts of the wrecked MiG-15UTI were collected and are stored in sealed barrels. |
− | + | [[Image:Yuri Gagarin Memorial Plaque.jpg|thumb|Yuri Gagarin Memorial Plaque, presented to the Soviet Union on [[January 21]], [[1971]]. Accepting the plaque at the Moscow ceremony was Soviet Gen. [[Nikolai Kuznetsov]], commander of the Soviet Union's Star City space base, where cosmonauts have been training since 1960.]] | |
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
* [[Soviet space program]] | * [[Soviet space program]] | ||
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* [[Space Race]] | * [[Space Race]] | ||
− | * [[Yuri's Night]] | + | * [[Yuri's Night]] |
− | * [[Soviet space program conspiracy accusations]] | + | * [[Soviet space program conspiracy accusations]] |
==References== | ==References== | ||
− | + | {{reflist}} | |
− | + | {{refbegin}} | |
− | + | *{{cite book |title=Vostok 1: First Human in Space |publisher=Enslow Publishers |location=[[Springfield, New Jersey|Springfield]] |first=Michael D |last=Cole |year=1995 |isbn=0-89490-541-4 |oclc=31739355}} | |
− | + | *{{cite book |title=Starman: The Truth Behind the Legend of Yuri Gagarin |publisher=Bloomsbury |location=[[London]] |first=Jamie |last=Doran |coauthors=Bizony, Piers |year=1998 |isbn=0-7475-4267-8 |oclc=39019619}} | |
− | + | {{refend}} | |
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− | * | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{wikiquote}} | {{wikiquote}} | ||
{{commons|Yuri Gagarin}} | {{commons|Yuri Gagarin}} | ||
+ | * [http://www.ispyspace.com/Yuri_Gagarin.html Yuri Gagarin - The First to Fly] | ||
* [http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0309.html Obituary, NY Times, March 28, 1968 ''Yuri Gagarin Killed As Test Plane Falls''] | * [http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0309.html Obituary, NY Times, March 28, 1968 ''Yuri Gagarin Killed As Test Plane Falls''] | ||
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* {{ru icon}} [http://epizodsspace.testpilot.ru/bibl/gagarin/doroga/obl.html Юрий Гагарин. Дорога в космос] — his book in Russian (HTML) | * {{ru icon}} [http://epizodsspace.testpilot.ru/bibl/gagarin/doroga/obl.html Юрий Гагарин. Дорога в космос] — his book in Russian (HTML) | ||
* {{ru icon}} [http://www.rgantd.ru/gag70_cd/start_me.htm Photo, Audio and Video with Yuri Gagarin], online version of CD created to his 70th anniv. on the homepage of Russian state archive for scientific-technical documentation (RGANTD). | * {{ru icon}} [http://www.rgantd.ru/gag70_cd/start_me.htm Photo, Audio and Video with Yuri Gagarin], online version of CD created to his 70th anniv. on the homepage of Russian state archive for scientific-technical documentation (RGANTD). | ||
* {{ru icon}} [http://www.rtc.ru/encyk/gagarin/main1.shtml Article in online Encyclopedia of cosmonautics] A lot of information about the first human's flight to space. | * {{ru icon}} [http://www.rtc.ru/encyk/gagarin/main1.shtml Article in online Encyclopedia of cosmonautics] A lot of information about the first human's flight to space. | ||
* {{ru icon}} [http://hyyuducom.narod.ru/santer/gagarin/index.html Gagarin's flight 3D visualization] — contains the real record of his conversation with the Earth during the spaceflight | * {{ru icon}} [http://hyyuducom.narod.ru/santer/gagarin/index.html Gagarin's flight 3D visualization] — contains the real record of his conversation with the Earth during the spaceflight | ||
+ | * {{ru icon}} [http://epizodsspace.testpilot.ru/bibl/i_tsk/zv-reis.html Annotated transcript of Gagarin's radio conversations with ground stations, starting 2hrs (4:10 UTC) before launch] | ||
* [http://www.astronautix.com/astros/gagarin.htm Gagarin] — detailed biography at [http://www.astronautix.com/ Encyclopedia Astronautica] | * [http://www.astronautix.com/astros/gagarin.htm Gagarin] — detailed biography at [http://www.astronautix.com/ Encyclopedia Astronautica] | ||
* [http://www.ffagency.com/gagarin/ List (with photos) of Gagarin statues] | * [http://www.ffagency.com/gagarin/ List (with photos) of Gagarin statues] | ||
* [http://yle.fi/elavaarkisto/?s=s&g=2&ag=12&t=283&a=02190 11 minutes long interview of Yuri Gagarin by The Finnish Broadcasting Company in 1961] | * [http://yle.fi/elavaarkisto/?s=s&g=2&ag=12&t=283&a=02190 11 minutes long interview of Yuri Gagarin by The Finnish Broadcasting Company in 1961] | ||
+ | * [http://www.yurisnight.net Yuri's Night - World Space Party] | ||
+ | <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] —> | ||
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{{Persondata | {{Persondata | ||
|NAME=Gagarin, Yuri | |NAME=Gagarin, Yuri | ||
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|PLACE OF DEATH=[[Kirzhach]] | |PLACE OF DEATH=[[Kirzhach]] | ||
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[[Category:Politicians and reformers]] | [[Category:Politicians and reformers]] | ||
− | {{credits|Yuri_Gagarin| | + | {{credits|Yuri_Gagarin|211940868}} |
Revision as of 22:15, 12 May 2008
Yuri Gagarin Юрий Гагарин | |
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Yuri Gagarin | |
Cosmonaut | |
Nationality | Russian |
Status | Deceased |
Born | March 9 1934 Klushino, USSR |
Died | March 27 1968 (aged 34) Kirzhach, USSR |
Other occupation | Pilot |
Rank | Polkovnik, Soviet Air Force |
Space time | 1 hour, 48 minutes |
Selection | Air Force Group 1 |
Missions | Vostok 1 |
Mission insignia |
30px |
Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, (Russian: Ю́рий Алексе́евич Гага́рин, Jurij Aleksejevič Gagarin Russian pronunciation: [ˈjurʲɪj ɐlʲɪˈksʲeɪvʲɪtɕ gɐˈgarʲɪn]; 9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968), Hero of the Soviet Union, was a Soviet cosmonaut. On 12 April 1961, he became the first human in space and the first to orbit the Earth. He received many medals from different countries for his pioneering tour in outer space.
Early life
Yuri Gagarin was born in the village of Klushino near Gzhatsk (now in Smolensk Oblast, Russia), on 9 March 1934. The adjacent town of Gzhatsk was renamed Gagarin in 1968 in his honor. His parents, father Alexei Ivanovich Gagarin and mother Anna Timofeevna Gagarina, worked on a collective farm.[1] While manual laborers are described in official reports as "peasants", this may be an oversimplification if applied to his parents — his mother was reportedly a voracious reader, and his father a skilled carpenter. Yuri was the third of four children, and his elder sister helped raise him while his parents worked. Like millions of people in the Soviet Union, the Gagarin family suffered during Nazi occupation in World War II. His two elder siblings were sent to Germany as slave laborers in 1943, and did not return until after the war. While a youth, Yuri became interested in space and planets, and began to dream about his space tour which became true one day.[2] Yuri was described by his teachers in the Moscow satellite town of Lyubertsy as intelligent and hard-working, if occasionally mischievous. His mathematics and science teacher had flown in the Soviet Air Forces during the war, which presumably made some substantial impression on young Gagarin.
After starting an apprenticeship in a metalworks as a foundryman, Gagarin was selected for further training at a technical high school in Saratov. While there, he joined the "AeroClub", and learned to fly a light aircraft, a hobby that would take up an increasing proportion of his time. Through dint of effort, rather than brilliance, he reportedly mastered both; in 1955, after completing his technical schooling, he entered military flight training at the Orenburg Pilot's School. While there he met Valentina Goryacheva, whom he married in 1957, after gaining his pilot's wings in a MiG-15. Post-graduation, he was assigned to Luostari airbase in Murmansk Oblast, close to the Norwegian border, where terrible weather made flying risky. As a full-grown man, Gagarin was 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) tall, which was an advantage in the small Vostok cockpit.[1] He became Lieutenant of the Soviet Air Force on November 5, 1957 and on November 6, 1959 he received the rank of Senior Lieutenant.[3]
Career in the Soviet space program
Selection and training
In 1960, after an extensive search and selection process Yuri Gagarin was selected with 19 other cosmonauts for the Soviet space program. Along with the other prospective cosmonauts, he was subjected to a rigorous series of experiments designed to test his physical and psychological endurance; he also underwent intensive training for the upcoming flight. Out of the twenty selected, the eventual choices for the first launch were Gagarin and Gherman Titov because of their excellent performance in training, as well as their physical characteristics — space was at a premium in the small Vostok cockpit and both men were rather short. Gagarin's last-minute assignment, approved at the highest levels of the CPSU, to take the historic flight, may have been due to Gagarin's modest upbringing and genial, outgoing personality, as opposed to the middle-class and somewhat aloof demeanor of Titov. [citation needed] Soviet officials weighed other factors as well in selecting Yuri: his appearance, his capacity to handle media attention, his Russian heritage and even the name "Gagarin," which was also a family name associated with Tsarist aristocracy.
Space flight
On 12 April 1961, Gagarin became the first human to travel into space in Vostok 3KA-2 (Vostok 1) and return. His call sign in this flight was Kedr (Cedar) (Russian: Кедр).[4] During his flight, Gagarin famously whistled the tune "The Motherland Hears, The Motherland Knows" (Russian: "Родина слышит, Родина знает").[5][6] The first two lines of the song are: "The Motherland hears, the Motherland knows/Where her son flies in the sky".[7] This patriotic song was written by Dmitri Shostakovich in 1951 (opus 86), with words by Yevgeniy Dolmatovsky.
There are speculations in the media that from orbit Gagarin made the comment, "I don't see any God up here." There are, however, no such words in the full verbatim record of Gagarin's conversations with the Earth during the spaceflight.[8] In a 2006 interview a close friend of Gagarin, Colonel Valentin Petrov, stated that Gagarin never said such words, and that the phrase originated from Nikita Khrushchev's speech at the plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU, where the anti-religious propaganda was discussed. In a certain context Khrushchev said, "Gagarin flew into space, but didn't see any God there".[9] Colonel Petrov also said that Gagarin had been baptized into the Orthodox Church as a child.
While in orbit Gagarin was promoted "in the field" from the rank of Senior Lieutenant to Major, and this was the rank at which TASS announced him in its triumphant statement during the flight.[citation needed]
Gagarin being safely returned, Nikita Khrushchev rushed to his side and Gagarin issued a statement praising the Communist Party of the Soviet Union as the "organizer of all our victories". Khrushchev saw Gagarin's achievement as a vindication of his policy of strengthening the Soviet Union's missile forces at the expense of conventional arms. This policy antagonized the Soviet military establishment and contributed to Khrushchev's eventual downfall.
Fame and later life
After the flight, Gagarin became an instant, worldwide celebrity, touring widely with appearances in Italy, Great Britain[10], Germany, Canada, and Japan to promote the Soviet achievement.
In 1962, he began serving as a deputy to the Supreme Soviet. He later returned to Star City, the cosmonaut facility, where he worked on designs for a reusable spacecraft. Gagarin worked on these designs in Star City for 7 years. Gagarin became Lieutenant Colonel (or Podpolkovnik) of the Soviet Air Force on June 12 1962 and on November 6 1963 he received the rank of Colonel (Polkovnik) of the Soviet Air Force.[3] Soviet officials tried to keep him away from any flights, being wary of losing their hero in an accident. Gagarin was backup pilot for Vladimir Komarov in the Soyuz 1 flight. As Komarov's flight ended in a fatal crash, Gagarin was ultimately banned from the space program.
Death and legacy
Gagarin then became deputy training director of Star City. At the same time, he began to requalify as a fighter pilot. On 27 March 1968, he and his instructor died in a MiG-15UTI on a routine training flight near Kirzhach. It is not certain what caused the crash, but a 1986 inquest suggests that the turbulence from a Su-11 'Fishpot-C' interceptor using its afterburners may have caused Gagarin's plane to go out of control. Weather conditions were also poor, which may have contributed to the inability of Gagarin and the instructor to correct before they crashed.
In his book, Two Sides of the Moon, Alexei Leonov recounts that he was flying a helicopter in the same area that day when he heard "two loud booms in the distance." Corroborating the above hypothesis, his conclusion is that a Sukhoi jet (which he identifies as a Su-15 'Flagon'), flying below its minimum allowed altitude, "without realizing it because of the terrible weather conditions, passed within 10 or 20 meters of Yuri and Seregin's plane while breaking the sound barrier." The resulting turbulence would have sent the MiG into an uncontrolled spin. Leonov believes the first boom he heard was that of the jet breaking the sound barrier, and the second was Gagarin's plane crashing.[11]
A new theory, advanced by the original crash investigator in 2005, hypothesizes that a cabin vent was accidentally left open by the crew or the previous pilot, thus leading to oxygen deprivation and leaving the crew incapable of controlling the aircraft.[12]
There were two commemorative coins issued in the Soviet Union to commemorate 20th and 30th anniversaries of his flight: 1 rouble coin (1981, copper-nickel) and 3 rouble coin (1991, silver). In 2001, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Gagarin's flight, a series of four coins bearing his likeness was issued in Russia: 2 rouble coin (copper-nickel), 3 rouble coin (silver), 10 rouble coin (brass-copper, nickel), 100 rouble coin (silver).[13]
Gagarin is buried next to Seregin in the walls of the Kremlin on Red Square.
On 12 April 2007, the Kremlin vetoed a new investigation into the death of Gagarin. Some experts who had been involved in the original investigation had formulated a new theory, based on modern technology and investigative methods. Government officials said that they saw no reason to begin a new investigation.[14] All found parts of the wrecked MiG-15UTI were collected and are stored in sealed barrels.
See also
- Soviet space program
- Space Race
- Yuri's Night
- Soviet space program conspiracy accusations
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tito, Dennis (2006-11-13). Yuri Gagarin. Time Europe via Time.com. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ↑ French, Francis; Burgess, Colin (2007). Into That Silent Sea: Trailblazers of the Space Era, 1961-1965. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, p. 2. ISBN 0803211465. OCLC 71210133.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 (Russian) Юрий Алексеевич Гагарин. Astronaut.ru (2007-07-11). Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ↑ Gagarin. Astronautix.com (2007-11-17). Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ↑ (Russian) Гагарин, Юрий (2004-12-03). Дорога в космос. Pravda via TestPilot.ru. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ↑ Motherland Hears (download). SovMusic.ru. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ↑ Motherland Hears (lyrics). SovMusic.ru. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ↑ (Russian) Полная стенограмма переговоров Юрия Гагарина с Землей с момента его посадки в корабль (за два часа до старта) до выхода корабля "Востока-1" из зоны радиоприема. Cosmoworld.ru. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ↑ (Russian) Я горжусь обвинениями в том, что ввел Юрия Гагарина в православие. Interfax-religion.ru (2006-04-12). Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ↑ Callow, John (2007-11-30). A Thaw in the Cold War. WCML.org.uk. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ↑ Leonov, Alexei and Scott, David (2004). Two Sides of the Moon. New York: Thomas Dunne Books, p. 218. OCLC 56587777.
- ↑ Holt, Ed (2005-04-03). Inquiry promises to solve Gagarin death riddle. Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ↑ (Russian) База данных по памятным и инвестиционным монетам. CBR.ru. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- ↑ Osborn, Andrew (2007-04-12). Kremlin vetoes new inquiry into mystery death of Yuri Gagarin. Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-03-30.
- Cole, Michael D (1995). Vostok 1: First Human in Space. Springfield: Enslow Publishers. ISBN 0-89490-541-4. OCLC 31739355.
- Doran, Jamie and Bizony, Piers (1998). Starman: The Truth Behind the Legend of Yuri Gagarin. London: Bloomsbury. ISBN 0-7475-4267-8. OCLC 39019619.
External links
- Yuri Gagarin - The First to Fly
- Obituary, NY Times, March 28, 1968 Yuri Gagarin Killed As Test Plane Falls
- (Russian) Юрий Гагарин. Дорога в космос — his book in Russian (HTML)
- (Russian) Photo, Audio and Video with Yuri Gagarin, online version of CD created to his 70th anniv. on the homepage of Russian state archive for scientific-technical documentation (RGANTD).
- (Russian) Article in online Encyclopedia of cosmonautics A lot of information about the first human's flight to space.
- (Russian) Gagarin's flight 3D visualization — contains the real record of his conversation with the Earth during the spaceflight
- (Russian) Annotated transcript of Gagarin's radio conversations with ground stations, starting 2hrs (4:10 UTC) before launch
- Gagarin — detailed biography at Encyclopedia Astronautica
- List (with photos) of Gagarin statues
- 11 minutes long interview of Yuri Gagarin by The Finnish Broadcasting Company in 1961
- Yuri's Night - World Space Party
Persondata | |
---|---|
NAME | Gagarin, Yuri |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Gagarin, Yuri Alekseyevich; Ю́рий Алексе́евич Гага́рин, Jurij Aleksejevič Gagarin |
SHORT DESCRIPTION | Soviet cosmonaut |
DATE OF BIRTH | March 9, 1934 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Klushino near Gzhatsk, Russia |
DATE OF DEATH | March 27, 1968 |
PLACE OF DEATH | Kirzhach |
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