On April 12, 1961, 60 years ago, Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin went to space for the first time. The flight lasted 1 hour and 48 minutes. It seems like a short time? But try to take on what was considered impossible for centuries and risk your life. This feat was appreciated by all his contemporaries.

The first flight into space became a global event. For the Soviet people, it was a double victory: a Russian man made this flight, and it happened in a country that remembered the destruction of World War II and what it had to go through for science and technology to reach such a level.

Yuri Gagarin was born in the Smolensk region to a family of simple workers. They lived in a modest village house. He did not attend elite schools and experienced the horrors of war. Their home was occupied by the Germans, and his brother and sister were taken to Germany. Gagarin rarely spoke of the war, as the pain was too great.

Genealogical studies showed that among Gagarin's 450 ancestors, many had "bird" surnames, such as Gusev, Lebedev, Voronin. Birds, as we know, fly in the sky.

Like his grandfather Timofey Matveyev, Yuri chose the profession of a foundry worker and began attending an aeroclub while studying at the Saratov technical school. Later, while serving in the army, he entered a flight school in Orenburg, which predetermined his fate.

Did you know that Yuri Gagarin was almost expelled from flight school? Not due to poor grades or behavior, but because he could not land a plane without mistakes. His height limited his visibility, but after a cushion was placed on his seat, he managed the task. Ultimately, his short stature became an advantage in the cosmonaut team.

After the flight, Gagarin visited 30 countries, where he was received as a legend. In 1961, he visited England, where he was welcomed warmly and cordially. In Manchester, he received a diploma as an Honorary Foundry Worker of England and conducted a smelting at a factory, earning the respect of the craftsmen.

In England, Gagarin also received a gold medal from the British Interplanetary Society. He was welcomed by scientists and business people, impressed by his erudition and broad outlook.

A special event was a lunch with Queen Elizabeth II. Although such a meeting was not planned, it took place in a relaxed atmosphere thanks to Gagarin's charm. He suggested eating "Russian style," and the queen supported him, which eased the atmosphere.

British researcher Christopher Riley believes that Gagarin's flight and his message of peace helped prevent World War III.

The dream of the sky and Gagarin's work sparked a new planetary mindset. The Earth, seen from space, appeared as a wonderful blue pearl that needs to be cherished.

The memory of Gagarin in the UK is preserved. In Greenwich Park, there is a monument to Gagarin, and in 2017, a bust by Alexei Leonov was donated to the Science Museum in London. In Manchester, a commemorative plaque has been installed, and there are streets named after Gagarin in various cities across the UK. On the Orkney Islands, a stone was unveiled in honor of the first human flight into space.