Yuri Gagarin: First Man In Space | Chasing the Moon | American Experience | PBS

When Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, the reaction was, if anything, more electric than when Sputnik launched.
Until Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's flight on April 12, 1961, dogs and astrochimps were the typical vanguard space travelers. Sending a human into space - and bringing him back alive - was one of the greatest scientific and engineering achievements to date.
Back on earth, the reaction was, if anything, more charged with excitement than when Sputnik launched. Gagarin's flight was a huge propaganda opportunity for the Soviet Union. Two days after Gagarin's return, Kennedy called a meeting in the cabinet room - what can the US space program do? Rocket scientist Wernher von Braun and his team began working on the Saturn rockets with the goal: land a man on the moon by the end of the decade.
Learn more about our film, CHASING THE MOON, including where to watch: www.pbs.org/wg...

[@jimoberg3326]

Gagarin was a hero for the planet, and for the ages. Sergey Khrushchev gave awesome insights here, excellent choice for expert. Vostok was the kick in the ass that motivated JFK to go for the moon, and freaked out Congress enough to pay for it, and the rest IS history.

[@GeneralJackRipper]

Now that man is the bravest man who ever lived.

[@kzlfaku]

I'm American and my biggest hero is a Russian: Yurij Gagarin! The pathwalker!

[@gutsfinky]

I'm an American too and I greatly admire this man. Some things are just beyond politics.

[@nesschanel9460]

i'm 13 years old and hoping to be an astronaut in the future this man is my hero and i could see this comment after years when i'm a real astronaut

[@nesschanel9460]

and hope i could*

[@aligajani]

You will.

[@cedricd7110]

May your wish come true....hey! do your parents know you're on Youtbe??????

[@cadecannon159]

Good luck! Stay focused, this is a great time for space exploration again.

[@AnirudhYashovardhan]

U can only be astronaut only if u r a fighter pilot in any country , where u live.

[@jurajkopunek4382]

Поехали! Go!

[@wHw_Syxx]

Yuri Gagarin had balls of steel.

[@joed.twyman6355]

And no brainski

[@wHw_Syxx]

@@joed.twyman6355 What are you talking about? Lol. He laid the groundwork for future astronauts and accomplished what no person has done before at that time. It would of been an honor to meet him and shake his hand. Politics aside, the whole world was cheering for him except for you I guess lol.

[@GeneralJackRipper]

​@@wHw_Syxx The world wasn't cheering for him because the soviets didn't tell anyone until after he came back. If he had died we never would have known his name.

[@secundus6457]

@@GeneralJackRipper And what? If, if, if, if....🤣you are so pathetic

[@PortmanRd]

Still a great achievement.

[@ЛадаЛосева-щ9й]

С Юрием Гагариным никто не сравнится! Самый лучший и самый красивый космонавт в мире - русский космонавт!💗💕 Слава русскому космонавту ЮРИЮ ГАГАРИНУ!❤ УРА-а-а-а!

[@Ayhunt7]

I hope America doesn't erase this for future generations.

[@sitarnut]

Don't worry.. he is locked in our hearts as well as the Russian people. I will never forget him, and have several articles of memory surrounding his epic trip.. photograph, the front page of a Fort Worth newspaper dated 4-12-61 and even his 10" LP record. Exciting times back then......

[@jesuscruzcruz3613]

A man alone in a single space ship going to the unknown space using elemental technology of XX century. That´s awesome and unbelievable .

[@setituptoblowitup]

What a trip yuri you are STARMAN 🎇🎆🎇

[@Adjita108]

Раньше у нас в СССР даже мужчины целовали мужчин, и это было проявление большого уважения, а теперь это проявление извращения!

[@sk2480]

Russian they were far ahead from Americans

[@СергейОвчинников-н7г]

Первый человек в космосе

[@igoroloviannikov1735]

WE REMEMBER ! МЫ ПОМНИМ !!!

[@novacult3082]

The days of honouring our greatest heroes on TV, some kind of optimism in the future of mankind and far less cynicism. Today we get billionaires in space conducting a scientifically useless mission as the world burns from climate crisis and main-street is crushed under pandemic. Capitalist realism needs competition again, not from Chinese authoritarian Communism but something authentic a true belief in realizing human greatness, even getting companies to just drop their patents on the vaccines to end the Covid-19 pandemic would be a step for mankind.

[@guyinthesky6696]

@2:13 Aliens were also observing.

[@PortmanRd]

Also, a very devout Orthodox Christian who kept his faith hidden. In all likelihood, his famous God quote was concocted by none other than Kruschev. Anton Pervushin was a close friend of Yuri Gagarin. Quote: "In fact, Gagarin should always be remembered for completely different words. I always remember that Yuri Gagarin said: "An astronaut cannot be suspended in space and not have God in his mind and heart." Anton Pervushin

[@RaviVerma-qq7lp]

Yuri.... Yuri..

[@secundus6457]

It's interesting how western propaganda tries to erase the memory about THE FIRST person in SPACE.

[@mihailo-dl3jn]

They can try all they like but Yuri Gagarin is a legend

[@adlerzwei]

It doesn't. STFU.

[@ΑΛΕΞΙΟΣΛΕΟΝΩΦ]

ΑΛΕΞΕΙ ΛΕΟΝΩΦ

[@TheKatchour]

♥️🌹🌹🌹

[@silviamtsoares]

urra😄

[@ayatullah2936]

Gagarinio romio

[@psycleen]

neil armstrong played yuri

[@secundus6457]

Yuri is the FIRST. Neil is ...

[@oleksandrmilovanov8784]

Бессмертие

[@ikunalz]

Why so bitter?

[@secundus6457]

because the US has lost the SPACE race.