Sixty years ago today — April 12, 1961 — the space age really began.
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was launched successfully, completed a single orbit of the Earth, and landed safely.
The launch happened early Russia time, so the NYT got it in the April 12, 1961, paper.
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was launched successfully, completed a single orbit of the Earth, and landed safely.
The launch happened early Russia time, so the NYT got it in the April 12, 1961, paper.
2/ It was an astonishing achievement.
The US wouldn't launch a human being into space for another 3 weeks — Alan Shepard's Freedom 7 Mercury flight.
But that was an anti-climax. Shepard just went up in a long arc and back down — didn't enter orbit, barely entered space.
The US wouldn't launch a human being into space for another 3 weeks — Alan Shepard's Freedom 7 Mercury flight.
But that was an anti-climax. Shepard just went up in a long arc and back down — didn't enter orbit, barely entered space.
3/ So much about Gagarin's flight was a little crazy. The details—many of which didn't come out for years—were astonishing.
Most dramatically, Gagarin ejected 4 miles up & landed separately from his Vostok spaceship.
Little taste of the story from 'One Giant Leap,' below.
Most dramatically, Gagarin ejected 4 miles up & landed separately from his Vostok spaceship.
Little taste of the story from 'One Giant Leap,' below.
4/ Gagarin was wearing a bright orange flight suit & a white helmet. He floated down on a pair of white parachutes into a potato field south of the hamlet of Engels.
Imagine seeing a genuine spaceman appear in your potato field in Russian spring 1961.
Imagine seeing a genuine spaceman appear in your potato field in Russian spring 1961.
5/ Gagarin was a little off-course.
The potato farmers were delighted to welcome him — one woman gave him milk from her lunch pail.
Gagarin, like most early Soviet cosmonauts, carried a pistol — in case he landed among hostile wildlife, coming down on land, not at sea.
The potato farmers were delighted to welcome him — one woman gave him milk from her lunch pail.
Gagarin, like most early Soviet cosmonauts, carried a pistol — in case he landed among hostile wildlife, coming down on land, not at sea.
6/ His flight took place from about 1 am to 3 am Washington DC time.
US intelligence officials had warned JFK that the early morning of April 12 might be the moment of launch.
Did he want to be woken up?
No, he told his military aide.
US intelligence officials had warned JFK that the early morning of April 12 might be the moment of launch.
Did he want to be woken up?
No, he told his military aide.
7/ The reaction to the Russians orbiting a human being — something the US wouldn't do for another 10 long months — was rightly extraordinary. Hyperbolic.
That NYT headline in tweet #1 above — same size and style as the headline for Pearl Harbor and the A-bomb on Hiroshima.
That NYT headline in tweet #1 above — same size and style as the headline for Pearl Harbor and the A-bomb on Hiroshima.
8/ Human beings in space.
The legendary British astonomer Bernard Lovell called the launch 'the greatest scientific achievement in the history of man.'
2 million Russians lined the streets of Moscow to greet Gagarin on his return to the Soviet capital.
The legendary British astonomer Bernard Lovell called the launch 'the greatest scientific achievement in the history of man.'
2 million Russians lined the streets of Moscow to greet Gagarin on his return to the Soviet capital.
9/ The Soviet sense of triumph was completely intertwined with the impulse to tweak the Americans.
See the exchange below, between Soviet leader Khrushchev and Gagarin, their first post-flight phone call.
See the exchange below, between Soviet leader Khrushchev and Gagarin, their first post-flight phone call.
10/ Most important, though, Gagarin's flight, and the global acclaim for the Russians, really got under Kennedy's skin.
Congress was irritated too.
The day after the Gagarin launch, there were hearings about it in the House. (The day after — and Congress was same party as JFK.)
Congress was irritated too.
The day after the Gagarin launch, there were hearings about it in the House. (The day after — and Congress was same party as JFK.)
11/ Chmn of the House Science & Astronautics Cmte, Overton Brooks:
'It's time we stopped making excuses on why we are behind and have been for three years.…The nation that controls space may well control the Earth.'
'It's time we stopped making excuses on why we are behind and have been for three years.…The nation that controls space may well control the Earth.'
12/ Gagarin launched Wed morning. Early Fri evening, JFK convened a group in the Cabinet Room to brainstorm a response.
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13/ It's where JFK famously groused (as reported by Hugh Sidey):
'If somebody can just tell me how to catch up, let's find somebody. Anybody. I don't care if it's the janitor over there, if he knows how. There's nothing more important.'
Going to the Moon was on the table.
'If somebody can just tell me how to catch up, let's find somebody. Anybody. I don't care if it's the janitor over there, if he knows how. There's nothing more important.'
Going to the Moon was on the table.
14/ The next morning — Saturday morning, April 15 — the hapless and disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba began. Cuban rebels backed by the CIA.
By Wednesday, the US-backed invasion force was surrounded by 20,000 Cuban troops, led by Fidel Castro himself.
By Wednesday, the US-backed invasion force was surrounded by 20,000 Cuban troops, led by Fidel Castro himself.
15/ Wed, April 12: Soviets launch the first person into space.
Wed, April 19: The Soviet satellite nation Cuba effortlessly defeats a US-backed invasion designed to overthrow its gov't.
Those twin humiliations were as important as anything in sending Americans to the Moon.
Wed, April 19: The Soviet satellite nation Cuba effortlessly defeats a US-backed invasion designed to overthrow its gov't.
Those twin humiliations were as important as anything in sending Americans to the Moon.
16/ That's the story of 'One Giant Leap,' of course.
Politics got it going.
Technology, and human ingenuity, powered it to Tranquility Base.
Every step is as astonishing, as filled with fresh surprises, as Gagarin landing in a potato field 60 years ago.
amazon.com/One-Giant-Leap…
Politics got it going.
Technology, and human ingenuity, powered it to Tranquility Base.
Every step is as astonishing, as filled with fresh surprises, as Gagarin landing in a potato field 60 years ago.
amazon.com/One-Giant-Leap…
17/ And it's a story for today.
We need to remind ourselves what we can do when we pick a goal that is a real stretch — and then make it happen.
Working together, even in divided times. (The sixties — pretty much as turbulent as today.)
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We need to remind ourselves what we can do when we pick a goal that is a real stretch — and then make it happen.
Working together, even in divided times. (The sixties — pretty much as turbulent as today.)
#
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