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'Let's go!' Yuri Gagarin's maiden space voyage started it all
Published time: 11 Apr, 2016 14:59Edited time: 11 Apr, 2016 15:31
Soviet Pilot and Cosmonaut, Hero of the Soviet Union Yury Gagarin. © Sputnik
369
Fifty five years ago, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin stunned the world by becoming the first person to journey to outer space when he completed an orbit of the Earth on 12 April 1961.
Space travelers and researchers the world over took a moment on Tuesday to remember and pay homage to Gagarin's epoch-making achievement, which represented mankind's very first step towards conquering the final frontier of outer space.
Scott Kelly, retired American astronaut:
I’d like to say congratulations to the Russian people on the 55th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s first flight, the first flight of a person in space. It is something that is inspiring to me and even to people in the US. I think many people recognize what we call a ‘cosmonautic's day'. S prazdnikom! (Congratulations!)
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly. © / Reuters
Mikhail Kornienko, Russian cosmonaut:
[Upon his return from a year long mission aboard the ISS] I began to understand very clearly that we need to save our planet. We, the people of the Earth, need to put our minds together because this is our home. I am saying obvious things… In aviation, there is such a thing as a decision point. Humankind is right now at a decision point: either we choose to carry on with these squabbles, or we choose to see clearly the danger we are in, that we can be wiped out.
[I would like to wish all the Russian people] some simple human things and experiences. I wish all the RT viewers happiness, good health, good luck, and of course love. Love is going to save this world, so I wish love to every one of us.
I'd say there's no politics in outer space. No one talks about politics here, at the ISS. Although sometimes it shows up in some minor things, like when we watch newscasts, which we get regularly.
Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Korniyenko © Stringer / Sputnik
Mark Serov, Russian cosmonaut:
I think Soyuz still has a long life ahead of it. There could be even another upgrade, because once in a while one could hear it being called “out-of-date.†Well, it’s not out-of-date, it still has a huge upgrade capacity, and its original design solutions remain efficient. That was the great thing our predecessors accomplished. And our task is to expand and improve their work by applying new technology where we can…
[Sergey Korolev] would be very happy because, in essence, Soyuz is his baby, it’s his swan song; he started this project. And all the upgrades and improvements we are doing now – that’s us finishing what he started.
Mark Serov © astronaut.ru
Sean Fuller, Director, NASA Human Space Flight Programs - Russia at NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Yuri Gagarin was the first human into space and it really opened the door for space exploration. His first flight of 108 minutes has led to the International Space Station [ISS]… It started with his flight and today anyone who is 15 years old or younger has lived their entire life with someone living in space. And it all started on that day on April 12, 1961.
The cooperation between the US and the Russian space programs began a little over 40 years ago with Apollo Soyuz as we showed what we could do coming together with Alexey Leonov and his crew, and General Tom Stafford and his crew linking up in space. We have learned that working together we can accomplish more. Today the ISS is proof of that with 16 different nations working together…
© Sheir Locke / Reuters
Elena Serova, Russian cosmonaut:
Once you’re inside a spaceship, you don’t feel nervous anymore, you are focused on doing your job. Because you know the spaceship was designed and put together by all these people. Every aspect of working at a space station involves a great deal of responsibility. The knowledge they invested in us down here on Earth includes all kinds of disciplines in science and technology. And you must carry out each task masterfully.
Zero gravity and the sensation of flight on-board the station turned out to match my expectations, because, when I was a little girl, I would often have dreams about flying. So this felt like being back in one of my dreams.
I just have to share this: every time you look outside a window, it’s a breathtaking sight. The most exciting part is when you are inside the cupola, the American module of the ISS that has windows on all sides, and you turn off your lights when passing over the dark side of the Earth. And you see all these lights downs there, and it feels as if you’re hovering in the sky above the Earth… You have to experience it to know what it feels like.
Roskosmos cosmonaut Yelena Serova © Ramil Sitdikov / Sputnik
Sergey Ryazansky, Russian cosmonaut:
Yuri Gagarin, with his huge personality, represents an entire era of major breakthroughs for our country. When you see his smile you can’t help but want to go to outer space. I think he truly was – and still is – a role model inspiring many boys and girls in our country.
Sergei Ryazansky. © Sputnik
Aleksandr Misurkin, Russian cosmonaut:
I spent some time thinking whose name the entire world would remember, and in connection to what achievement - apart from Yuri Gagarin’s. And I came to a conclusion that the next such person will be the one to test-ride either a time machine, or teleport, or to fly to another planet. Yuri Gagarin is truly the one who opened and represents a new epoch in the life of mankind.
Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin. © Sputnik
Viktor Gorbatko, Russian cosmonaut:
The first group [approved by the commission], myself included, was summoned to Moscow’s Institute for Air and Space Medicine as early as October 1959. That was where I first met Yuri Gagarin.
I remember him... He was very vivacious. Honestly, of the twenty of us, I also thought Gagarin was the best choice. To give him credit, after that flight he remained the same guy he had been before. That’s what I really liked about him. They must have considered this quality too when picking their candidate. But he was generally the best of us, that’s a known fact.
On this remarkable day, April 12th, I would like to congratulate all of my compatriots on this important occasion, the 55th anniversary of the first manned spaceflight, carried out by our fellow citizen, Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel Yuri Gagarin. May you all live long and happy lives and may there be peace on Earth!
Cosmonaut Victor Gorbatko. © Sergey Pyatakov
Igor Komarov, Head of Russian Federal Space Agency:
We’re looking at a lot of progress to be made in the next 55 years and a lot of exciting developments. That is a lot of time. I think that we will see a mission to Mars, and I think that Russia - together with its partners in other countries - will set up an orbital station on Mars. I’m sure there will also be a lot of research activity on the moon, including the creation of a lunar base and a lunar orbital station. By the way, we are already discussing such plans with our partners in NASA and the European Space Agency.
Igor Komarov, director general of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos). © Sputnik
I believe it already has [friendship between Russian cosmonauts and US astronauts continues to endure amid political uncertainty]. Last year was the 40th anniversary of the Soyuz-Apollo project and we had a big celebration for this milestone event. And there I saw Thomas Stafford and Alexey Leonov address the audience and share their memories. The level of cooperation and the spirit of collaboration this mission managed to achieve against the background of the Cold War and the highly strained relations between the then Soviet Union and the US is truly remarkable...
Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, left, and US astronaut Thomas Stafford answer journalists' questions at the first ever news conference in space during the experimental flight of Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft in July 1975. © Sputnik
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.
HomeOp-Edge
'Let's go!' Yuri Gagarin's maiden space voyage started it all
Published time: 11 Apr, 2016 14:59Edited time: 11 Apr, 2016 15:31
Soviet Pilot and Cosmonaut, Hero of the Soviet Union Yury Gagarin. © Sputnik
369
Fifty five years ago, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin stunned the world by becoming the first person to journey to outer space when he completed an orbit of the Earth on 12 April 1961.
Space travelers and researchers the world over took a moment on Tuesday to remember and pay homage to Gagarin's epoch-making achievement, which represented mankind's very first step towards conquering the final frontier of outer space.
Scott Kelly, retired American astronaut:
I’d like to say congratulations to the Russian people on the 55th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s first flight, the first flight of a person in space. It is something that is inspiring to me and even to people in the US. I think many people recognize what we call a ‘cosmonautic's day'. S prazdnikom! (Congratulations!)
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly. © / Reuters
Mikhail Kornienko, Russian cosmonaut:
[Upon his return from a year long mission aboard the ISS] I began to understand very clearly that we need to save our planet. We, the people of the Earth, need to put our minds together because this is our home. I am saying obvious things… In aviation, there is such a thing as a decision point. Humankind is right now at a decision point: either we choose to carry on with these squabbles, or we choose to see clearly the danger we are in, that we can be wiped out.
[I would like to wish all the Russian people] some simple human things and experiences. I wish all the RT viewers happiness, good health, good luck, and of course love. Love is going to save this world, so I wish love to every one of us.
I'd say there's no politics in outer space. No one talks about politics here, at the ISS. Although sometimes it shows up in some minor things, like when we watch newscasts, which we get regularly.
Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Korniyenko © Stringer / Sputnik
Mark Serov, Russian cosmonaut:
I think Soyuz still has a long life ahead of it. There could be even another upgrade, because once in a while one could hear it being called “out-of-date.†Well, it’s not out-of-date, it still has a huge upgrade capacity, and its original design solutions remain efficient. That was the great thing our predecessors accomplished. And our task is to expand and improve their work by applying new technology where we can…
[Sergey Korolev] would be very happy because, in essence, Soyuz is his baby, it’s his swan song; he started this project. And all the upgrades and improvements we are doing now – that’s us finishing what he started.
Mark Serov © astronaut.ru
Sean Fuller, Director, NASA Human Space Flight Programs - Russia at NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Yuri Gagarin was the first human into space and it really opened the door for space exploration. His first flight of 108 minutes has led to the International Space Station [ISS]… It started with his flight and today anyone who is 15 years old or younger has lived their entire life with someone living in space. And it all started on that day on April 12, 1961.
The cooperation between the US and the Russian space programs began a little over 40 years ago with Apollo Soyuz as we showed what we could do coming together with Alexey Leonov and his crew, and General Tom Stafford and his crew linking up in space. We have learned that working together we can accomplish more. Today the ISS is proof of that with 16 different nations working together…
© Sheir Locke / Reuters
Elena Serova, Russian cosmonaut:
Once you’re inside a spaceship, you don’t feel nervous anymore, you are focused on doing your job. Because you know the spaceship was designed and put together by all these people. Every aspect of working at a space station involves a great deal of responsibility. The knowledge they invested in us down here on Earth includes all kinds of disciplines in science and technology. And you must carry out each task masterfully.
Zero gravity and the sensation of flight on-board the station turned out to match my expectations, because, when I was a little girl, I would often have dreams about flying. So this felt like being back in one of my dreams.
I just have to share this: every time you look outside a window, it’s a breathtaking sight. The most exciting part is when you are inside the cupola, the American module of the ISS that has windows on all sides, and you turn off your lights when passing over the dark side of the Earth. And you see all these lights downs there, and it feels as if you’re hovering in the sky above the Earth… You have to experience it to know what it feels like.
Roskosmos cosmonaut Yelena Serova © Ramil Sitdikov / Sputnik
Sergey Ryazansky, Russian cosmonaut:
Yuri Gagarin, with his huge personality, represents an entire era of major breakthroughs for our country. When you see his smile you can’t help but want to go to outer space. I think he truly was – and still is – a role model inspiring many boys and girls in our country.
Sergei Ryazansky. © Sputnik
Aleksandr Misurkin, Russian cosmonaut:
I spent some time thinking whose name the entire world would remember, and in connection to what achievement - apart from Yuri Gagarin’s. And I came to a conclusion that the next such person will be the one to test-ride either a time machine, or teleport, or to fly to another planet. Yuri Gagarin is truly the one who opened and represents a new epoch in the life of mankind.
Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin. © Sputnik
Viktor Gorbatko, Russian cosmonaut:
The first group [approved by the commission], myself included, was summoned to Moscow’s Institute for Air and Space Medicine as early as October 1959. That was where I first met Yuri Gagarin.
I remember him... He was very vivacious. Honestly, of the twenty of us, I also thought Gagarin was the best choice. To give him credit, after that flight he remained the same guy he had been before. That’s what I really liked about him. They must have considered this quality too when picking their candidate. But he was generally the best of us, that’s a known fact.
On this remarkable day, April 12th, I would like to congratulate all of my compatriots on this important occasion, the 55th anniversary of the first manned spaceflight, carried out by our fellow citizen, Hero of the Soviet Union, Colonel Yuri Gagarin. May you all live long and happy lives and may there be peace on Earth!
Cosmonaut Victor Gorbatko. © Sergey Pyatakov
Igor Komarov, Head of Russian Federal Space Agency:
We’re looking at a lot of progress to be made in the next 55 years and a lot of exciting developments. That is a lot of time. I think that we will see a mission to Mars, and I think that Russia - together with its partners in other countries - will set up an orbital station on Mars. I’m sure there will also be a lot of research activity on the moon, including the creation of a lunar base and a lunar orbital station. By the way, we are already discussing such plans with our partners in NASA and the European Space Agency.
Igor Komarov, director general of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos). © Sputnik
I believe it already has [friendship between Russian cosmonauts and US astronauts continues to endure amid political uncertainty]. Last year was the 40th anniversary of the Soyuz-Apollo project and we had a big celebration for this milestone event. And there I saw Thomas Stafford and Alexey Leonov address the audience and share their memories. The level of cooperation and the spirit of collaboration this mission managed to achieve against the background of the Cold War and the highly strained relations between the then Soviet Union and the US is truly remarkable...
Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, left, and US astronaut Thomas Stafford answer journalists' questions at the first ever news conference in space during the experimental flight of Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft in July 1975. © Sputnik
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.