50, 100, 150 Years Ago; May 2011; Scientific American Magazine; by Daniel C. Schlenoff; 1 Page(s)

MAY 1961

Cosmonaut
“On April 12, 1961, Yuri Alekseyevich ­Gagarin, a citizen of the U.S.S.R., achieved the distinction of ­being the first man to cross the border ­between the earth and interplanetary space. The rocket bearing the five-ton spaceship Vostok (meaning ‘East’) was fired aloft at 9:07 a.m. Moscow time. While Gagarin was in orbit he ­radioed messages such as: ‘I am watching the earth. The visibility is good. I feel well and cheerful. The machine is functioning normally.’”