just over half a century ago, mankind conquer new horizons.And today, no one is surprised that the Earth's orbit, people not only live, but also carry out research.Profession astronaut has become as normal as any other.Their names no one and does not try to remember.Although the name of the first man in space, and the name of the spacecraft Gagarin, remember and know all the inhabitants of the planet so far.That is so awesome was the first flight.
On the way to the stars
Today the name of Yuri Gagarin to all is inextricably linked with the cosmos.And perhaps difficult to imagine even imagine that someone else could pull this legendary flight.The same is true of the "Vostok-1", but because of the arms race designers had to cancel a number of fundamental decisions.It has not been provided an emergency escape system at startup, no replacement and installation of the braking system of a soft landing of the ship.
Special requirements apply to the first cosmonaut.In addition to good health and good moral character required that their growth was no more than 170 cm, weight - 75 kg.This is due to the fact that Gagarin's spacecraft could not accommodate heavier and grew passenger.As a result, the leadership, and indeed the general designer for a long time could not decide on a candidate.And just before the start of Sergei Korolev gave preference to Gagarin.His understudy was appointed German Titov.
legendary flight
April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin made the first manned space flight.This fact was a milestone in the development of modern civilization.On that day, in all languages of the world, journalists and ordinary citizens repeated the name of the spacecraft Gagarin."Vostok-1" has become as legendary as his pilot.
And this despite the fact that before the first astronaut staged a very simple task.Yuri Gagarin had successfully enter the orbit of the Earth, making it 1 turn around and land at a given point.In addition, it was necessary to keep a detailed diary of his observations and experiences during the entire flight.However, not all the objectives of the first spacecraft Gagarin successfully coped.So, he got to 100 km above the planned orbit and during the descent due to the friction of the red-hot air flow so that the melted metal.In addition, the first astronaut landed instead of the planned place at Stalingrad in the Saratov region.During the flight, and it had plenty of other emergency situations that could lead to the death of the pilot and the complete failure of the mission.
Life after
From this day all over the world learned the name of the spacecraft Gagarin.And the Yuri A. became a legend during his lifetime.Everyone wanted to meet him and shake his hand first "celestial man".As a result, fear of losing the first cosmonaut, the command does not allow long Gagarin took off again.
But the ship itself, "Vostok-1" has been repeatedly modernized and up until 1963 was operated successfully.He even went into space Gherman Titov and Valentina Tereshkova.And then, after it was developed following a series of vessels, it was exhibited in 1965 at the Exhibition of Economic Achievements.What was the surprise of foreign media, which until then had known only the name of the spacecraft Gagarin.He surpassed the wildest speculation of foreign designers and visionaries.
