1961: Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space
Soviet cosmonaut Major Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin became the first man in space on 12 April 1961.
Major Gagarin orbited the Earth for 108 minutes, travelling at more than 17,000 miles per hour (27,000 kilometres per hour) before landing at an undisclosed location.
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev congratulated Major Gagarin on his achievement, saying: "The flight made by you opens up a new page in the history of mankind in its conquest of space."
大象传媒 Archive: Originally broadcast on 12 April 1961.