Happy Anniversary Yuri! Celebration of Yuri Gagarin's Epic Trip

On April 12, 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (left, on the way to the launch pad) made the first human spaceflight, a 108-minute orbital journey in his Vostok 1 spacecraft. 

Newspapers like The Huntsville Times (right) trumpeted Gagarin's accomplishment.

Credit: NASA

It was 53 years ago today on April 12, 1961 when cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin launched into space aboard his Soviet Vostok 1 and ushered in an era of space travel that continues to this today.

Yuri Gagarin with chief rocket designer Sergei Korolev

Yuri Gagarin Photograph of Gagarin with chief rocket designer Sergei Korolev

Credit: Bloomsbury Auctions