50th Anniversary. Yuri Gagarin: First in Space

Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

Yuri Gagarin. First Man in Space
By Mark Daymont
Space Center Educator

Fifty Years Ago, the people of the world were stunned to hear the announcement that the Soviets had launched the first man into space. Senior Lieutenant Gagarin of the Soviet Air Force rode the Vostok 1 into orbit around the Earth. The flight last 108 minutes. Just as he was completing the first orbit, he re-entered the atmosphere to land on Soviet territory. The first capsule he rode did not allow for the pilot to remain inside as it landed; for safety's sake he jumped from the capsule as it descended and floated down on his own parachute.

Instant Hero of the Soviet Union, and the World.

The news spread quickly around the world. The Soviets used this momentous occasion to belittle the United States space program and aggrandize their own. To be honest, they were ahead of the United States in one way: They had the rocket capable of lifting the heaviest payload into space. In the coming days, I'll examine why the US lost the race to be the first to put a human pilot into space.

Vostok 1 Control Panel.

Gagarin was more of a passenger than a pilot for this flight. The Soviet military had only sent up dogs before this flight, and were not entirely sure that a human would remain coherent during weightlessness. Mission Control on the ground kept control of most of the flight, with Gagarin providing commentary and observations. He was 27 at the time. Sadly, because of his hero status, he was not permitted to fly in space again. Tragically, he died in an aircraft accident in 1968.

And What for Tuesday?

Hello Troops,
I wrote a very short caption for a picture similar to the one above in The Troubadour's previous post. This is a more interesting one. Perhaps you'd like to have a go?

We are enjoying the second day of our Spring Vacation. During this week long truce we've pulled back from the front lines of battle and are relaxing in the comforts of reckless idle time. No more shelling (constant explosions from the simulators), no more field rations (the WalMart semiplastic rolls kept by the filing cabinet) and no more listening to me barking orders and tossing snide comments like grenades. You are free to explore civilian life. Do you even remember life as a civilian, the days before you signed your life away to The Space Center? That was twenty years ago for me and I'm nearly normal - well nearly as in I nearly won the $15,000,000 lottery, I was only off by six of the seven winning numbers!

So, how about a few things from the Imaginarium to keep you company until you get to wear that fashionable black Tshirt with anchor again (ever wonder why you would ever need an anchor in space?).

This pretty much sums it up.....


How about this for a science classroom decoration. It's the best cross between art and science I've seen in years. It is a perfect illustration of the water cycle (use it for your next science project).


The scores are in and the United States did just as poorly as predicted despite spending billions on education. This is exactly what I'm talking about when I write about our war with ignorance and apathy in these blog posts.

What is wrong with you kids today? And don't even think of blaming us adults for this mess. Haven't we given you great school buildings with cool technology? Never mind the fact that most American kids are raising themselves to some extent. Whatever the causes, it is a sad commentary. On the bright side, I'm happy to report that I don't see this with our Space Center staff and volunteers. You are all the cream of the crop. Keep working hard in school. Let's turn these numbers around.


On the brighter side, what about this as a pirate's costume?


And for a moment of complete insanity..... why would you need to build a building nearly one mile high? This is a proposed building for Saudi Arabia. Guess where they're getting the money to build it? That's right - from us, every time you fill up at Hart's or Walkers!

I want this a tie for church. I think it makes a bold statement.


Now take your average book shelve and add imagination. You see how easy. Everything is better with imagination as its secret ingredient.
And finally, anyone in your family this intelligent?

Finally, a couple of vids to get you started in the right direction. Amazing stuff.......

She Remembers the Voyager

Mary watched the blue Earth slowly disappear, swallowed by the diamond jeweled shroud of space. She held her grand daughter on her lap and thought how fortunate she was to have lived long enough to see her home from such a vantage point.

"This is perfection," she whispered. Her breath condensed on the window then quickly faded from view.

"Why is this perfection Grandma?" Jimmy asked from the seat beside her. Jimmy was nearly twelve. He had his grandmother's bright green eyes and dimples. Using his armrests, he propped himself up with his elbows to look out the portal. He was a seasoned space traveller for one so young, having made the trip back and forth between the Europa Defense Station and Earth several times in his young life. The Earth was gone, leaving only his dimmed reflection staring back at him. He dropped back into his seat, tapped on his Wristnet and flipped through the holographic screens floating motionless before him. He was looking for a new game, anything to help pass the time.

"It's perfection because I'm here with you and your sister and I'm in space, something I've dreamed of doing ever since I was a little girl." Her smile brightened her wrinkled face.

"Did you always want to live off Earth?" Jimmy moved his finger through the air to close the image. He turned to look at his grandmother.

"Ever since I flew on the USS Voyager when I was your age."

"The Voyager?" Jimmy was confused. He knew his grandmother was well over 100. He knew only people called astronauts went into space back then, and she was never an astronaut.

"The Voyager was a make believe starship at a school. We went there for a field trip when I was in the sixth grade." She sat back in her chair, turned toward Jimmy and continued. "I was the communications officer. I got to talk to aliens. It was something I've never forgotten. Ever since then I wanted to go into space for real - and here I am." She took Jimmy's chin in her cupped hand and gave it a grandmotherly squeeze.

"Grandma, my school at the station has three space ship simulators. We learn to fight real aliens, not pretend ones."

Mary looked at her grandson's proud expression . He was a Cadet Lieutenant and always scored well in the battle simulations. If he continued at that same pace he'd be certified for duty at sixteen.

"Life was simpler back then Jimmy. We didn't know anyone else lived in the universe but us. How could we have known the Voyager Probe would make our existence known to the..."

"Grandma," Jimmy interrupted. "They would have found us anyway. Dad says it was just a matter of time with all the TV and radio." Jimmy reactivated his Wristnet and screened his homework. The list was longer than the last time he checked it.

"Look at all this homework." Jimmy slumped further down in his chair with a forced look of exhaustion. "I told dad three weeks was too long." It was his dad's idea that he, his mother and sister spend time on Earth. Jimmy explained to his dad that he'd fall behind in his classes but his dad insisted. He thought Jimmy was too serious for an eleven year old and needed time away from the Academy. Jimmy cleared his throat then remembered his Grandmother. "It's OK Grandma. I'm really glad we came to get you. "

"And now you're my brave little cadet bringing me to the stars. You know what? Your old grandma is feeling like a little girl again. Now, here comes your mother."

Mary's daughter returned from the Steward's Station balancing an armful of snacks. She knew they'd be hungry after awakening from the first sleep cycle, scheduled to begin in ten minutes.

"Now then, are we ready for a nice long sleep?" Mary asked as she began adjusting the Starliner's seats for sleeping. We're several days out from Europa. Our first awakening will be in 24 hours. You'll get to see Mars." She squeezed her mother's hand as she pushed the "Sleep Prep" button.

Soon they would be home at the Europa Defense Station where Father was waiting.

P.S. I found the picture above and felt the urge to add accompaniment. I know, I should remember that a picture is worth a thousand words but, as many of you know, I relish the challenge of writing something to go with a cool picture I find on the net. I did my best to keep the story short. I've been told over and over by many of you younglings that my Troubadour posts are mind numbingly long. I realize several of you have delicate attention spans, so heaven forbid I post anything over two paragraphs in length!