# Yuri Gagarin

Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who on April 12, 1961, became the first human to journey into outer space, completing one orbit of Earth in the Vostok 1 spacecraft in 108 minutes. His achievement was a major victory for the Soviet Union in the Space Race and made him an instant global celebrity. He died on March 27, 1968, in a MiG-15 training jet crash under circumstances that have never been fully explained.

## Quick Facts

- **Born:** March 9, 1934
- **Birthplace:** Klushino, Russia
- **Nationality:** Russian
- **Occupation:** Cosmonaut / Pilot
- **Category:** Scholars & Educators
- **Also Known As:** The First Man in Space, Columbus of the Cosmos

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Source: https://peoplebio.info/p/yuri-gagarin