Vostok 1
Mission / eventCompleted
First human flight into Earth orbit
Vostok 1 launched on April 12, 1961 with Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin aboard a one-person Vostok spacecraft in Earth orbit. Gagarin completed the first human spaceflight. The mission returned safely on April 12, 1961 after 1 hour, 48 minutes.
Mission photo archive
Reviewed photographs documenting Vostok 1. Every image links to its official NASA catalog record.
Vostok 1 official development-flight photograph
An exact conventional Russian Ministry of Defense and RIA Novosti photograph of Yuri Gagarin with Sergei Korolev and Kirill Moskalenko immediately before the Vostok 1 flight on April 12, 1961.
Vostok 1 after landing
The Vostok 1 capsule as recovered after landing. Currently on display at the RKK Energiya museum in Korolyov
Vostokpanel
Part of Vostok-1 spacecraft control panel
Launch record
Explore this mission’s launch, including its vehicle, launch site, payload, and outcome.
Vostok-3A No. 3
launch attemptOrbital attemptcompletedNo reviewed launch image5 connectionsMission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Trajectory profile
5 sourcesFollow the mission from departure through its flight environment, destination, and final phase. This sequence is not a scale orbital plot.
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
1 assignmentMission Purpose
5 sources- First human spaceflight.
- Operate the one-person Vostok spacecraft in Earth orbit.
- Return the pilot safely to Earth.
Planned Flight Plan
5 sources- April 12, 1961
Vostok 1 launch
Launch Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin aboard the Vostok spacecraft into Earth orbit.
- In flight
Orbital operations
Operate the one-person Vostok spacecraft in Earth orbit while ground controllers monitor the flight.
- Earth orbit
First human flight into Earth orbit
Gagarin completed the first human spaceflight.
- April 12, 1961
Planned return
Return the pilot safely after 1 hour, 48 minutes.
Mission Timeline
5 sources- April 12, 1961
Launch
Vostok 1 entered Earth orbit with Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin.
- In flight
Orbital operations
Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin continued the mission aboard the one-person Vostok spacecraft.
- In flight
First human flight into Earth orbit
Gagarin completed the first human spaceflight.
- April 12, 1961
Landing
The mission returned safely after 1 hour, 48 minutes.
Open operation record