Today is the 50th anniversary of the first manned space flight by Yuri Gagarin!

There are few titles more cool or crazy than that of “The First Human Being Ever To Go Into Space”, but it was one given to Russian pilot Yuri Gagarin 50 years ago today. On April 12, 1961, Gagarin became the first human being to man a shuttle that left Earth’s atmosphere, almost completing a full orbit of the planet in just 108 minutes.

His achievment sparked the 1960’s space race that culminated with Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon on 21st July, 1969.

You can find out all there is to know about Gagarin’s (very interesting) life by clicking here.