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Wednesday, 1 April, 1998, 08:01 GMT 09:01 UK
"The first cosmonaut in the world is in space"
Gagarin in space
On April 12 1961, after years of rocket development and 11 months of intensive cosmonaut training, the first manned space flight was about to take place. Gagarin was superbly prepared for his encounter with history, both physically and technologically - on the night before his flight while others paced and worried, "Cosmonaut One" slumbered. Asked how he could sleep so peacefully on the eve of the launching, Yuri answered: "Would it be right to take off if I were not rested? It was my duty to sleep so I slept." Gagarin reported to Korolev at the testing ground and entered the capsule - a spherical part of the spaceship about 2 metres in diameter, protected by an ablative material for re-entry.
Even when a temporary problem was discovered with the capsule's hatch minutes before blast-off, Gagarin maintained his characteristic cheerfulness and never stopped smiling as the hatch closed. He was heard quietly whistling a song about the Motherland as Korolev ordered the launch. In an interview, Gagarin described the event: "At seven past nine Moscow time I felt the powerful rocket boosters. Everything was vibrating, and then, very slowly, I took off." Confident as ever, Gagarin shouted "Let's go!" as he began the journey that would take him round the earth and back again.
When it was obvious that Gagarin had made it into orbit, the Kremlin ordered the Russian news agency, Tass to make a prepared broadcast. The official announcement said simply: "The first cosmonaut in the world is in space." Two further announcements had been prepared in advance. One asked for help in rescuing a cosmonaut who had fallen to earth outside Soviet territory. And the other announced his death.
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30 Mar 98 | Europe
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