The first manned space flight took place on April 12, 1961. Traveling in the Vostok 1 capsule, the cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth in 108 minutes and safely returned to Earth. This flight proved that a human being can not only be launched into space but also return safe and sound. This event marked the beginning of a new era of manned space flights.
Gherman Titov was appointed Gagarin’s backup pilot: four months later, on August 6–7, 1961, he also orbited the Earth. His flight lasted significantly longer. The second cosmonaut orbited the Earth 17 times over 25 hours. During that time, Titov ate three meals, slept, and even had a dream.
Very soon, Soviet plants and factories started producing souvenirs dedicated to these historic events. Toys, Christmas tree decorations, postcards, postage stamps, and other space-related souvenirs hit the market. The collection of the Gherman Titov Museum houses a decorative plate depicting the first Soviet pilots to orbit the Earth.
The two cosmonauts were connected not only by the common profession but also by a close and warm friendship. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin and Gherman Titov were nicknamed “the star brothers”. Gagarin himself referred to Titov in his memoirs as his “twin brother”. The cosmonauts talked to each other often, supported each other, and always kept in touch. Unfortunately, their friendship lasted only eight years and ended with the sudden death of Yuri Gagarin.
Cosmonautics Day is an anniversary celebrated in the Russian Federation on April 12. “To celebrate the world’s first flight of a Soviet person to space”, this holiday was established by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR a year later. On March 26, 1962, this decision was initiated by Gherman Titov, the world’s second cosmonaut and the Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR. Later, it became an international holiday — the International Day of Aviation and Cosmonautics.
Gherman Titov was appointed Gagarin’s backup pilot: four months later, on August 6–7, 1961, he also orbited the Earth. His flight lasted significantly longer. The second cosmonaut orbited the Earth 17 times over 25 hours. During that time, Titov ate three meals, slept, and even had a dream.
Very soon, Soviet plants and factories started producing souvenirs dedicated to these historic events. Toys, Christmas tree decorations, postcards, postage stamps, and other space-related souvenirs hit the market. The collection of the Gherman Titov Museum houses a decorative plate depicting the first Soviet pilots to orbit the Earth.
The two cosmonauts were connected not only by the common profession but also by a close and warm friendship. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin and Gherman Titov were nicknamed “the star brothers”. Gagarin himself referred to Titov in his memoirs as his “twin brother”. The cosmonauts talked to each other often, supported each other, and always kept in touch. Unfortunately, their friendship lasted only eight years and ended with the sudden death of Yuri Gagarin.
Cosmonautics Day is an anniversary celebrated in the Russian Federation on April 12. “To celebrate the world’s first flight of a Soviet person to space”, this holiday was established by a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR a year later. On March 26, 1962, this decision was initiated by Gherman Titov, the world’s second cosmonaut and the Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR. Later, it became an international holiday — the International Day of Aviation and Cosmonautics.
