# Yuri Gagarin

> Soviet pilot and cosmonaut, first human in space (1934–1968)

**Wikidata**: [Q7327](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7327)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuri_Gagarin)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/yuri-gagarin

## Summary
Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space. Active from 1934 to 1968, he is globally recognized for this historic achievement, which established him as a pioneer of space exploration and a hero of the Soviet Union.

## Biography
- **Born:** March 9, 1934
- **Nationality:** Soviet Union
- **Education:** Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy, Saratov State Technical University
- **Known for:** Being the first human in space
- **Employer(s):** Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, Central Committee of the AULYCL
- **Field(s):** Aviation, space exploration, military service, politics

## Contributions
Yuri Gagarin's most significant contribution was becoming the first human in space, a milestone that marked the beginning of manned spaceflight. He was a member of the First group of Soviet cosmonauts, the inaugural cohort of aviators selected for space travel. His professional life spanned multiple disciplines, serving as an aircraft pilot, astronaut, military officer, politician, and explorer. Gagarin also contributed to the legacy of space exploration through his affiliation with the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center and the International Academy of Astronautics.

## FAQs
**When was Yuri Gagarin born and when did he die?**
Yuri Gagarin was born on March 9, 1934, and died on March 27, 1968.

**What is Yuri Gagarin best known for?**
He is best known for being the first human in space, a historic achievement that occurred during his career as a Soviet cosmonaut.

**What awards did Yuri Gagarin receive?**
Gagarin received numerous prestigious awards, including Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin, and the title Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR, as well as international honors like the Order of Karl Marx and the Star of the Republic of Indonesia.

**What organizations was Yuri Gagarin affiliated with?**
He was affiliated with the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy, the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, and the Central Committee of the AULYCL.

**What places and things are named after Yuri Gagarin?**
Numerous entities bear his name, including the city of Gagarin in Russia, Gagarin's Start at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the asteroid 1772 Gagarin, a lunar crater, the mineral gagarinite-(Y), and various streets, stadiums, and airports worldwide.

## Why They Matter
Yuri Gagarin matters because his successful spaceflight proved that humans could survive and function in space, fundamentally changing the course of history and launching the era of human space exploration. His achievement served as a major victory for the Soviet Union in the Space Race and inspired generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers globally. The sheer volume of commemorative namesakes—from mountains and craters to cities and holidays like Yuri's Night—attests to his enduring legacy as a symbol of human curiosity and technological progress.

## Notable For
- **First human in space:** Made history as the first person to leave Earth's atmosphere.
- **First group of Soviet cosmonauts:** Member of the initial selection of aviators for spaceflight.
- **Hero of the Soviet Union:** Recipient of the USSR's highest title.
- **Order of Lenin:** Awarded the highest decoration of the Soviet Union.
- **Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR:** Held the specific honorary title for cosmonauts.
- **Global Commemoration:** Has a vast number of geographical features, institutions, and landmarks named after him, including Gagarin's Start, Gagarin Square, and Gagarin International Airport.
- **International Awards:** Received honors from numerous countries, including Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cuba, Liberia, Brazil, Poland, and Egypt.

## Body
### Overview and Identity
Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet citizen born on March 9, 1934, who lived until March 27, 1968. He is identified as a human being who held multiple professional roles, primarily as an aircraft pilot and astronaut. Additionally, he served as a military officer, politician, and explorer. His physical stature is recorded at approximately 1.65 meters (with an alternative measurement of 1.58 meters noted in records).

### Career and Occupations
Gagarin's career was defined by his service as a pilot and cosmonaut. He was a member of the First group of Soviet cosmonauts, a group of aviators selected in 1960 for the first flight into space. His professional affiliations included the Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy, a Russian Air Force academy for training engineer personnel, and the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, an organization dedicated to cosmonaut training established in 1960. He was also associated with the International Academy of Astronautics, an international non-governmental organization.

### Spaceflight and Training
Gagarin's most notable role was that of an astronaut, or more specifically, a cosmonaut. He trained at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, which was inaugurated on January 11, 1960. His historic launch took place at Gagarin's Start, a launch site at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. This site, established in 1955, became the point of departure for his journey into space.

### Political and Military Service
Beyond his technical achievements, Gagarin was a military officer and a politician. He was affiliated with the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, the highest legislative body in the USSR, and the Central Committee of the AULYCL, the managing committee of the Russian Communist Party youth wing. His service in these capacities highlights his status as a prominent figure in the Soviet state.

### Awards and Recognition
Gagarin received a vast array of awards recognizing his service and achievements. His domestic Soviet honors included the Hero of the Soviet Union, the Order of Lenin, and the title Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR. He also received commemorative medals such as the Jubilee Medal "Twenty Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945," the Medal "For the Development of Virgin Lands," the Jubilee Medal "40 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR," and the Jubilee Medal "50 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR." He was named an Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR.

Internationally, he was honored as a Hero of Socialist Labour in both Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria. He received the Order of Georgi Dimitrov (Bulgaria), the Order of the Flag of the People's Republic of Hungary, the Order of Karl Marx (East Germany), the Order of the Nile (Egypt), the Order of Klement Gottwald (Czechoslovakia), the Hero of Labour (Vietnam), and the Star of the Republic of Indonesia. Other international awards included the Order of Playa Girón (Cuba), the Order of the Star of Africa (Liberia), the Order of Aeronautical Merit, the Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil), and the Order of the Cross of Grunwald (Poland).

### Legacy and Commemoration
Yuri Gagarin's legacy is preserved through numerous geographical features, institutions, and cultural entities named in his honor.
*   **Geography:** The Gagarin Mountains in Antarctica, the city of Gagarin (the administrative center of Gagarinsky District in Smolensk Oblast), the village of Gagarin in Armenia, and Gagarinsky District.
*   **Space:** The asteroid 1772 Gagarin and the lunar impact crater Gagarin.
*   **Science:** The mineral gagarinite-(Y).
*   **Infrastructure:** Gagarin International Airport near Saratov, Orenburg Tsentralny Airport, Welwitschia Mirabilis International Airport in Angola, and Yuri Gagarin Street in Belgrade.
*   **Institutions:** The Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Gagarin Air Force Academy, and Saratov State Technical University.
*   **Culture and Events:** Yuri's Night, a holiday commemorating space exploration celebrated on April 12.
*   **Monuments:** Gagarin Square in Moscow, Yuri Gagarin Stadium in Varna, Bulgaria, and Chernihiv Stadium in Ukraine.
*   **Maritime:** The spacecraft tracking ship *Kosmonavt Yuriy Gagarin*.
*   **Industry:** He is related to the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association (KnAAPO), a major aerospace manufacturer.

These widespread commemorations reflect his monumental impact on both the Soviet Union and the world.

## References

1. Great Russian Encyclopedia
2. Integrated Authority File
3. BnF authorities
4. [Source](http://www.federalspace.ru/1968)
5. [Source](https://www.nmspacemuseum.org/inductee/yuri-a-gagarin/)
6. [Space Pioneers Enshrined. Las Vegas Optic. 1976](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29967024/las_vegas_optic/)
7. CiNii Research
8. MusicBrainz
9. [Source](http://www.spacefacts.de/english/e_first.htm)
10. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
11. SNAC
12. Find a Grave
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15. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
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17. Proleksis Encyclopedia
18. The Fine Art Archive
19. Munzinger Personen
20. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
21. [Source](https://russian7.ru/post/chto-stalo-s-bratom-i-sestroy-yuriya-gagar/)
22. Virtual International Authority File
23. CONOR.SI
24. BBC Things
25. [Source](https://iz.ru/news/373279)
26. [Source](https://ria.ru/20180412/1518483071.html)
27. [Source](https://www.sportsdaily.ru/articles/pervyj-kosmonavt-zemli)
28. Česko-Slovenská filmová databáze
29. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
30. [Source](https://www.geo.fr/histoire/qui-etait-youri-gagarine-le-premier-homme-a-voler-dans-lespace-208981)
31. LIBRIS. 2007
32. [Yuri Gagarin | Space Wiki | Fandom](https://space.fandom.com/wiki/Yuri_Gagarin)
33. Golden
34. Bibliography of the History of the Czech Lands