60 years ago today, the Soviet pilot and cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, became the first person to ever venture into space and orbit the Earth. Gagarin’s mission was a historic achievement for the Soviet Union, which beat the US in the race to launch the first human into space. 
Gagarin was born into a family of peasant farmers in Smolensk. During the Nazi occupation of the Soviet Union in WWII, the Germans took over his family home, deported his siblings to labor camps, and burned down the village school.
In 1946, he went back to school. A former Russian airman taught him math and science, which became his favorite subjects. While he graduated as a molder from a trade school and went to an industrial college, he worked tirelessly to be able to attend the Soviet Air Force school.
Following his mission into space, Gagarin became a worldwide icon. He was also named a hero by the Soviet Union and was awarded the “Order of Lenin” for his accomplishments.
“Looking at the earth from afar you realize it is too small for conflict and just big enough for co-operation.”
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