Yuri Gagarin 50 years on

[Sharnbrook (Mike)]

I was reminded by the news broadcast this morning, (as well as by Google) that today was the 50th Anniversary of Gagarin's epic journey into space. I have the front page of the London Evening Standard of April 12th 1961, announcing the start of "The world's greatest adventure.."

My Old Man suggested that I keep a copy, as it would be of some interest in the future.

A photo of it is attached, but resolution is not too good, so it's difficult to read.

[supernova1965 (Warren)]

Google is celebrating this also

[Ric]

What an amazing adventure it must have been back in 1961.

Sitting in a tin can around 160 km up, he was definitely made of the right stuff.

[gary]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the scan of the newspaper which I found quite legible.

Great you held onto it for all these years.

To have the nerve to put yourself atop a Soviet booster in 1961 which would then
launch you into Earth orbit certainly has to make Gargarin one of the coolest
individuals of the 20th Century.

A hero of the Soviet Union, if his first epic journey had been undertaken
in the West, I am sure he would have been given the whole Hollywood movie
treatment - for better or for worse.

His untimely death in the MiG jet crash in 1968 was sad and if he were alive today
he would have been 77. I am sure every IceInSpace member would have loved
to come to one of his lectures to hear him speak of that first flight.

[Sharnbrook (Mike)]

Originally Posted by gary

Hi Mike,

I am sure every IceInSpace member would have loved
to come to one of his lectures to hear him speak of that first flight.

How many of us would understand Russian though?

Just a few.