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Yuri A. Gagarin Yuri A. Gagarin Yuri Gagarin was born on a farm west of Moscow, Russia on March 9, 1934. His father was a carpenter. Yuri attended the local school for 6 years and continued his education at vocational and technical schools. Yuri joined the Soviet Air Force in 1955. He graduated with honours from the Soviet Air Force Academy in 1957. Soon afterward, he became a military fighter pilot. By 1959, he was training to become a cosmonaut. He was part of the first group of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics cosmonauts. On April 12, 1961 Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth. The name of his spacecraft was Vostok 1. Vostok 1 had two sections. One section was for Yuri. The second section was for supplies needed for Gagarin to live such as oxygen and water. Vostok 1 circled Earth at a speed of 27,400 kilometres per hour. The flight lasted 108 minutes. Once in orbit, Yuri Gagarin had no control over his spacecraft. Vostok's re-entry was controlled by a computer program sending radio commands to the space capsule. Although the controls were locked, a key had been placed in a sealed envelope in case an emergency situation made it necessary for Gagarin to take control. Yuri Gagarin did not land seated inside of Vostok 1. He ejected from the spacecraft and landed by parachute. Yuri Gagarin was killed in a plane crash before he could travel in space a second time. He died on March 27, 1968. A crater on the far side of the Moon is named for him. Check that you understand what these words mean in this document Vocational school: an institution that provides skills and education that prepare one for a job. To graduate: to receive a degree or diploma. Honours: a degree which shows a student has received very high marks. Orbit: a(usually elliptical) path followed by one celestial body in its revolution about another. To eject (from an aircraft): to leave (an aircraft) rapidly using an ejection seat or capsule. For further reading visit: Yuri Gagarin