50th Anniversary of Human Space Flight

On April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first human being to ever leave Earths atmosphere and begin a new era of human exploration.  Although Gagarin's flight would trigger a space race between the United States and the Soviet Union and begin decades of scientific exploration of the cosmos, his short 89 minute flight in Vostock 1 would be his only space flight.  On March 27, 1968 while on a routine training flight Gagarin's MIG 15 crashed just outside of Kirzhach, Russia killing him instantly.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42524606/ns/technology_and_science-space/

 

Vostock 1 After re-entry