Yuri Gagarin was a Soviet cosmonaut who became the first human to travel into space. On April 12, 1961, he orbited the Earth aboard the spacecraft Vostok 1, completing one full orbit in about 108 minutes. His successful mission marked a significant achievement in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Gagarin's flight demonstrated the possibilities of human space travel and inspired future exploration. After his historic journey, he became an international hero and symbol of Soviet space achievements. Tragically, he died in a plane crash in 1968, but his legacy continues to influence space exploration today.