On this day - April 12th., 1961.

[willedoo]

Today marks the 50th. anniversary of the first manned space flight by Yuri Gagarin, orbiting the Earth in Vostok 1, his one & only spaceflight. Yuri died in 1968 in a controversial Mig 15 UTI training flight, along with instructor Vladimir Seryogin.

 

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[willedoo]

Russian Space Agency, Roscosmos, has cast a replica of the Yuri Gagarin 50th. anniversary of manned space flight statue & donated it to Great Britain.Yuri stands beside the statue of Captain Cook, so he's in good company, two very historic explorers. The statue will be there for one year apparently.

 

(Quote)

 

«Gagarin belongs not only to Russia but also to all the countries and all the people. It is important for us to show the statue in London », –Sky News cites the deputy chairman of Roscosmos, Vitaly Davidov.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/jul/14/yuri-gagarin-statue-unveiled-london