10 interesting facts about the first man in space

(Baonghean.vn) - April 12 is the day Russia celebrates the 55th anniversary of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin beginning his mission and becoming the first man to fly into space. RT news agency has published 10 interesting facts that few people know about this legendary astronaut.

1. Let's go!

“Poyekhali!” (“Let’s go!”) was the phrase that became synonymous with Gagarin as he took off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on April 12, 1966, becoming the first man in space. However, according to protocol, he should have said, “Crew, take off!” His simple words signaled the beginning of the Space Age in human history.

2. Letter to wife and children

Before his space flight, Gagarin wrote a farewell letter to his wife and daughters. Fortunately, he returned to Earth safely, meaning the letter was never needed. However, seven years later, Gagarin's wife Valentina opened the letter when Yuri died during a training flight in a fighter jet.

3. Collectibles

The Vostok 3KA-2 spacecraft was sold at auction five years ago, on April 12, 2011, for $2,882,500. This is the only Vostok spacecraft outside of Russia and is privately owned, the rest are currently in Russian museum collections.

4. Underwear given away

For his bravery, Gagarin received many favors from the Soviet government, including an apartment and a car. However, the list was so detailed that every item was listed, such as “6 sets of silk underwear” and “6 pairs of socks.”

5. Is that really him?

When Gagarin flew to Moscow to meet the then leader Nikita Khrushchev, the crowd of journalists and officials were surprised to see that he was just like everyone else, only noticing one small detail: he had forgotten to tie his shoelaces.

6. Love trauma

The scar on Gagarin's eyebrow became a rich source of inspiration to "weave" stories of mystery, love, violence, courage, etc. However, it seems that he "received" this scar when his wife discovered him in the room with another woman - a nurse named Anna, who was his assistant after a boat accident that morning at a Black Sea resort in September 1961. He tried to escape and jumped out of the window, then his face was hit hard on the paving stones.

7. Tomb in the Kremlin

Gagarin and flight instructor Vladimir Seryogin died in a MiG-15UTI crash near the town of Kirzhach. Their bodies were cremated and their ashes buried under the Kremlin walls on Red Square in Moscow.

8. 2 daughters

His eldest daughter - Yelena Gagarina (pictured) is an art historian, Director General of the Moscow Kremlin Museums since 2001, and his youngest daughter Galina Gagarina is dean and professor of economics at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics in Moscow.

9. Respect of the homeland

Yuri's hometown, Gzhatsk, was named after him when the cosmonaut died in 2008. It is now called Gagarin. The house pictured is where Gagarin lived during his school years.

10. Space Science Day

The day Gagarin completed the first manned space flight became Space Science Day in Russia. On April 12, 2011, the day was also chosen as International Day of Human Space Flight, with the consensus of 60 countries present at the United Nations General Assembly.

Thu Giang

(According to RT)