Cosmonautics Day (17 photos)

April 12, the day when Yuri Gagarin made the first human space flight history in Russia marks the Day of Cosmonautics.
In the world of that day at the initiative of the UN General Assembly proclaimed the International Day of Human Space Flight.
Let's take a look at the pictures of the hero Yuri Gagarin - the life of the common man.

We congratulate all with this historic event, a peaceful sky overhead.




Gagarin - the photographer. Autumn 1965.



Party in the "Star City", which was arranged in honor of the new astronauts in spring 1965 (left - Yuri Gagarin, right - Alexei Leonov).

A month earlier, Alexei Leonov made the first spacewalk.



Post-flight rest. Crimea, summer 1961.



Yuri A. on vacation.



Crimea, summer 1961.



Yuri Gagarin with his daughters.



Friendly hug from Fidel Castro.



The trips abroad. After his flight Gagarin visited several dozen countries.

One of the visits he paid to Helsinki in the summer of 1961.



The captain of the hockey team of astronauts "Our" Yuri Gagarin.

Cosmonaut Training Center. 1963.



Physical education.

Two years after Gagarin's flight is still in good shape. Summer 1963.



Yuri Gagarin with a camera.



Gift of the French company Matra: sports car Matra Djet. 1965.



Solid black owner "Volga". 1967.



"Hunters at Rest", autumn 1966.

Six months later, cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov (pictured right) was killed in a failed landing ship "Soyuz-1».



Successful hunting for ducks. Autumn 1966.



Yuri Gagarin with his daughters Galya and Lena.



Two days before the flight, Gagarin wrote a letter to his wife, Valentina. He knew that he would be a very dangerous activity, risk to life was very great. Here is the letter: "Hello, my dear, dearly beloved Valya, Helen and checkmark!
I decided now to write to you a few lines to share with you and share together the joy and happiness that I fell today. Today, a government commission decided to send me to space first. You know, dear Valya, how glad I am, I want to, and you were pleased with me. Simple person entrusted with such a large state task - to pave the first road into space!
Can you dream big? It's - history, it is - a new era! The next day I should start. You at this time going about their business. A very large task fell on my shoulders. I would like it to stay a little longer with you, talk to you. But, alas, you're far away. However, I always feel you close to him. The technique I trust completely. It should not fail. But the fact is that for no reason a person falls and breaks his neck. Here, too, something can happen. But until I myself do not believe it. Well, if that happens, then I ask you first of all you, Valya, not to kill with grief. After all, life is life, and no one is guaranteed that it will not crush the car tomorrow. Take care, please, our girls love them as I love. Grow from them, please do not shirkers, not momma's daughters, and these people who are potholes of life would not have been afraid. Grow people worthy of a new society - communism. This will help you state. Well satisfied with his personal life as conscience tells you as it sees fit. No obligation, I do not impose upon you, and do not have the right to do so. Something too mournful letter obtained. I myself do not believe it. I hope this letter you will never see, and I would be ashamed of myself for that fleeting weakness. But if something happens, you have to know everything to the end.
I still lived honestly, truthfully, for the benefit of people, and even though it was small. Once a child read the words Chkalov: "If to be, be the first." So I try it and I will be until the end. Want Valya dedicate this flight to people of the new society, communism, in which we are already entering our great motherland, our science.
I hope that in a few days we'll be together again, we will be happy.
Valya, you, please, do not forget my parents, if possible, help in anything. Give him a big hello from me, and let me be forgiven for what they are about it know nothing, but they are not supposed to know. Well, it seems that's all. Goodbye, my family. Tightly embrace and kiss you, with your dad greetings and Jura. 04/10/61 of
Gagarin & quot; Valentina read this letter only seven years later - after her husband's death in a plane crash 27 March 1968.

Source: www.adme.ru