On 12 April 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin launched aboard Vostok 1 and completed a single orbit of Earth in 108 minutes, becoming the first human to travel to outer space.
Gagarin ejected and parachuted to Earth separately from his capsule, landing in the Saratov region of Russia. His achievement came at the height of the Space Race and shocked the Western world. 12 April is now celebrated as Yuri's Night internationally.