Life and work in aviation
Yuri Gagarin was born on March 9, 1934. His professional career began with aviation training and service as a pilot. In 1959, he submitted a report on the admission to the group of candidates for cosmonauts, and in 1960 he joined the first detachment. Preparing a new direction required the development of space systems along with flight skills.
On April 12, 1961, Gagarin went into orbit on the Vostok spacecraft. This was the first human space flight in history. The ship circled the Earth; officially published flight duration was 108 minutes. When describing the mission, it is important to separate the actions of the astronaut from the work of the ground team and automatic systems.
After the flight, Gagarin participated in the activities of the detachment and the Cosmonaut Training Center. Since 1963 he was the deputy head of the center. At the same time he studied at the Zhukovsky Military Air Engineering Academy, from which he graduated in 1968. His work continued beyond a single space mission.
On March 27, 1968, Gagarin was killed along with pilot-instructor Vladimir Seryogin during a training flight on the UTI MiG-15 near the village of Novosyolovo. The causes of the disaster require a separate analysis of the documents; popular versions should not be included in the biography as proven facts. Gagarin's name is associated with the beginning of manned cosmonautics and aviation training of the first generation of cosmonauts.
Aviation training of the first cosmonaut
Gagarin's path to space flight included training in flight and service in aviation. This gave experience with technique, discipline, and procedures. At the same time, the spacecraft made new demands: the usual skills of the pilot became the basis of training, but did not replace the study of another system.
The connection with aviation explains the place of his biography in this section. The first manned orbital flight grew out of the work of people, many of whom came from the flight and engineering environment. Astronaut training combined technical knowledge, training and the ability to perform the program in unusual conditions.
What confirmed the flight "East"
On April 12, 1961, Gagarin became the first person to make a space flight. The Vostok ship performed an orbital route and returned a person to Earth. It was an independent stage in the development of technology, different from flying aircraft at high altitude.
Orbital motion requires sufficient speed and appropriate trajectory; altitude alone is not enough. Therefore, the space achievement can not be described only as a climbing record. The meaning of "East" is associated with the work of the ship, human life during the flight and the entire return system.
The man inside a big program
Gagarin's name became a symbol of the beginning of manned space exploration. Designers, doctors, training specialists and ground services were behind the departure. The astronaut's personal role was to carry out his part of the program and work within this system, not to build a ship alone.
After the flight, public interest in him was huge. For a meaningful biography, it is important to maintain the link between public image and professional training. Then the first cosmonaut appears not only as a hero of a memorable date, but also as a person who has passed a specific path to a complex technical task.
Aviation in the future life of Gagarin
Gagarin continued his aviation activities. His death in a training flight on March 27, 1968 refers to the history of piloting the MiG-15 with Vladimir Seregin. This is a separate event that should not be confused with the circumstances of space flight.
The memory of Gagarin is preserved through Cosmonautics Day and the study of the first orbital mission. It is useful for the reader to separate the confirmed chronology and popular versions of controversial events. The main aerospace contribution remains clear: participation in the first human flight into space and the professional training that led to it.
Major achievements
- First human space flight on April 12, 1961
- Work in the first detachment of cosmonauts and CPK
- Aviation engineering training: graduation from Zhukovsky Academy in 1968
Aircraft and flying machines
- The spaceship "East"
- UTI MiG-15
Organisations and events
Cosmonaut Training Center , Zhukovsky Military Air Engineering Academy
- April 12, 1961 - flight "East"
Questions about this biography
When was the first space flight?
12 April 1961.
What was the name of the ship?
"East".
How long does the flight usually take?
108 minutes - officially published duration.
Where did he study after the flight?
The Zhukovsky Military Air Engineering Academy.
What was the last flight training?
On the UTI MiG-15 together with Vladimir Seryogin.
Why is space flight associated with aviation history?
Gagarin came into space training from aviation. Flying skills and working with technology became the basis, which added knowledge and training for another system - a spacecraft.
Is it high enough to go into orbit?
Oh, no. The orbit is related to the corresponding velocity and trajectory. The flight of Vostok differed from the usual high-altitude flight of the aircraft precisely by the nature of the movement and the task of returning.