History of Russia: Russia celebrates the Cosmonautics Day

April 12, Russia celebrates the Day of Cosmonautics. 51 years ago the first astronaut - Yuri Gagarin - first flew into space: on board of a spaceship "Vostok", he circled the Earth in its orbit. 20 years later - April 12, 1981 – was made the first manned flight under the "Space Shuttle" U.S. program.

From the first launch complex Baikonur, the launch vehicle "Vostok 8K72K" brought the spaceship "Vostok", piloted by Yuri Gagarin, into Earth orbit.

The flight took place thanks to RSC "Energia" n. a. S. P. Korolev (then called OKB-1), which, under the leadership of Chief Designer Sergei Korolev, brought together the efforts of specialists and workers of many enterprises and organizations of the country, leading to modification of the space "Vostok" rocket R-7 and the first manned spacecraft, the satellite "Vostok".

The flight of the first cosmonaut lasted 1 hour 48 minutes. Having completed one revolution around the Earth at 10:55:34, on the 108th minute, the ship finished its scheduled flight (one second earlier than planned).

Yuri Gagarin was awarded the title of the Hero of the Soviet Union.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet on April 9, 1962, in commemoration of the first space flight by Yuri Gagarin, April 12th was declared the Day of Cosmonautics.