Scrapbook 1: Apr 1961 — Gagarin
THE first greeting for the man back from the world’s most thrilling adventure 125 miles above the earth.
Space conqueror Yuri Gagarin, 27, smiling with joy, is seen being congratulated by a Soviet Air Force friend soon after he returned from his five miles a second trip.
The first handshake. . . . It was followed by world acclaim.
A few minutes before the picture was taken, Gagarin — whose name means Wild Duck—had landed “somewhere in Russia.”
Behind him were 108 minutes of drama such as the world had not known before.
TODAY Gagarin returns to Moscow . . . to face a hero’s welcome. He will be greeted in the name of the Russian people by Mr. Krushchev . . . and there will be a great parade through the streets.
RUSSIA’S Spaceman, Yuri Gagarin, is to be presented with a gold medal by a British trade union.
The medal will be struck by the Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers.
Gagarin, once a moulder himself, has accepted honorary membership.
In a letter to the foundry workers Gagarin says:
“Soviet people think of their victories In outer Space as not their own achievement only, but as that of working people throughout the world.”
A certificate of congratulation will be given to Gagarin, as well as the medal.
The way to the stars
SPACEMAN Yuri Gagarin landed near here today fit and smiling and told Mr. Kruschev on the telephone: “I felt fine—just like at home.”
Yuri’s first task was to call the Soviet Premier at his Black Sea holiday headquarters at Sochu. Mr. Kruschev asked him how he fared during his 108-minute trip round the earth.
Said 27-year-old Yuri : “It felt good. The flight was very successful. All the apparatus of the cosmic ship functioned properly. I could see the seas, the mountains, big cities, rivers, and forests.
“The sky is very, very dark and the earth is a light blue. Everything can be seen very clearly. The shores of America were crystal clear.”
My wife knew
MR. KRUSCHEV: “So it can be said that you felt all right?—YURI: “You are quite right, Nikita Sergeyovich, I felt good on the flight—just like at home. I thank you for your heartfelt congratulations and your greetings on the successful completion of the flight.”
MR. KRUSCHEV: “Tell me, Yuri Alexeivich, have you a wife and children?”—YURI: “Yes, I have a wife, Valentina, and two daughters—Yelena and Galina.”
MR. KRUSCHEV: “And your wife, did she know you were going to fly in the cosmos?”—YURI: “Yes, she knew, Nikita Sergeyovich.”
Then Mr. Kruschev did the talking. He said: “Please give my sincere greetings to your wife and children. Let your daughters grow up to be proud of their father, who performed such a great exploit in the name of our Soviet homeland.
We’ll celebrate
“I am happy to hear your voice and to greet you. I will be happy to meet you in Moscow. You and I together—and all our people—will festively celebrate your great feat in mastering the cosmos.”
Yuri said: “Let all countries now catch up with us,” and Mr. Kruschev replied: ’You are right. Let the capitalist countries catch up with our country, which has paved the way to the cosmos, which has sent the first astronaut into space round the world.
“Please convey to your father and mother my heartfelt congratulations. They have a right to be proud of their son.”
Said Yuri: “Many thanks. I shall convey your words to my father and mother. They will be happy and deeply thankful to you, the party, and the Soviet Government.”
Mr. Kruschev replied: “Not only your parents but our whole country is proud of you. You have carried out a task which will live through the centuries.
“I greet you once more from my heart for the successful completion of the first cosmic flight and I look forward to our meeting soon in Moscow. I wish you the best of everything.”
But already Moscow and all Russia are mad with excitement. Exultant crowds seethe in the streets, radio and TV report the space news non-stop, the vodka flows, and everyone is celebrating.
THE TWELFTH
It has been like that all this incredible April the Twelfth, from the moment the first confident news flash was released this morning—before the Russians could know that Yuri would come back alive.
This was Yuri’s day of history, 3½ years after the first Russian sputnik had startled the world on October 4, 1957:
6.30 a.m. (8.30 a.m. Moscow time): Yuri was winched into his cabin in the nose of the giant rocket Vostok (it means East) somewhere in Russia.
As the hands of the clock in the control building crept towards seven he was strapped into his bed, specially moulded to fit every contour of his body.
In the control room the boffins gathered by two large maps. One was divided by a thin red line showing the course to be followed by the spaceship. Then they took their places by tables packed with loudspeakers and telephones.
They checked everything. The weather was Good—sunny and with little wind. That made for a good landing. Equipment was fully tested. A report from the airfield said: “Spaceship ready, taxi-ing.”
7.5 a.m. The hatch of spaceship Vostok was bolted shut and Yuri was on his own. As he lay on his back, facing the heavens, scientists and fellow-cosmonauts chatted to him over the radio.
Then came the count — the Russians count UP to the blastoff.
7.7 a.m. The giant rocket’s motors opened up and the spaceship was on its way.
7.22 a.m. First messages from Yuri announced: “Over South America. The flight is continuing O.K. I feel well.”
8.15 a.m. “I am now over South Africa. Flight normal. I am withstanding well the state of weightlessness.”
So the messages crackled back to earth. Yuri spoke strongly and clearly. He reported:
“I am carrying out observations of the earth. Visibility good. Reception excellent . . .
“The flight continues well. Carrying out observations of the earth. Visibility good. Can see everything. Certain spaces are covered with cumulus cloud formations . . .
“The flight continues, everything is normal. Everything functioning well. Everything working well. We go farther . . .”
“I am feeling well and cheerful. Continuing the flight. Everything is going well. The machine is functioning normally.”
Meanwhile, in the headquarters room, the experts had one concern: the health of Yuri and how he is feeling.
The ardio answered from over South America. All was well. Speed now 18,000 m.p.h., altitude up to 187 miles, almost airless space, cold that is difficult to measure.
8.25 a.m.: A braking device was brought into action and the spaceship began to come down towards a predetermined area in Western Russia.
8.55 a.m.: Yuri landed. The phone rang in the control room. A voice full of emotion said: “Yuri Gagarin is with us.”
AFTER HE LANDED
Spaceman Yuri Gagarin, after landing his Spaceship “somewhere in Russia.” He is pictured arriving by plane at an air base.