Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel into space on April 12, 1961, after his launch from Kasakistan in the 'Baikonur' Cosmodrome. Upon his historic return, he was celebrated as a national hero by Soviet people, whom considered his spaceflight a triumph comparable to the victory over the Germans in World War II. It has remained a source of national pride since April 12, 1961, a symbol of the country’s bravery and technological prowess.

Gagarin worked as a deputy training director at the cosmonaut training center, where he prepared future cosmonauts for space missions. He died in a MiG-15UTI crash during a routine training mission on March 27, 1968, at the age of 34. His contributions to space exploration are commemorated through various renamed facilities, including the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. The bronze statues of Gagarin and American astronaut John Glenn symbolize the cooperation between former Cold War rivals in contemporary space exploration.