On April 12, 1961, citizen of the Soviet Union Yuri Alexeyevich Gagarin, aboard the Vostok-1 spacecraft, made a flight into space — he orbited the Earth in 108 minutes.
A long time ago, I found a very beautiful speech by Yuri Gagarin on Red Square in Moscow. Please have a listen:
A transcription for unhurried, thoughtful reading and reflection:
Our people, with their genius, with their heroic labor, created the world’s splendid Vostok spacecraft and its very intelligent, very reliable equipment. From launch all the way to landing, I had no doubt whatsoever about the successful outcome of the spaceflight. I would like to sincerely thank our scientists, engineers, technicians, all the Soviet workers who created such a spacecraft, one on which the mysteries of outer space can be confidently explored.
Allow me also to thank all the comrades and the entire team that prepared me for the spaceflight. I am convinced that all my friends, the pilot-cosmonauts, are likewise ready at any time to make a flight around our planet. We can say with confidence that we, on our Soviet spacecraft, will also fly along more distant routes. I am immeasurably glad that my beloved Fatherland was the first in the world to make this flight, the first in the world to penetrate Space. The first airplane, the first satellite, the first spacecraft, and the first spaceflight — these are the stages of my Motherland’s great path toward mastering the mysteries of nature.
And now reread it once more, mentally creating all the images Gagarin speaks about.
Glory to Gagarin! Glory to Soviet scientists, engineers, technicians, pilots, and all workers! There was and will be a place for everyone in the common feat.