The first man in space became an instant celebrity around the world, from his home in Russia to the UK and even the US. He also had a hard time avoiding mobs of female fans.
By Adrian Collins
During the Space Race, the United States and the USSR were involved in an incredibly exciting race to explore the cosmos, pushing each other to innovate and experiment.
Thanks to this race, the first man launched into space was a Russian named Yuri Gagarin. The flight took place on the 12th of April 1961 and it ensured the cosmonauts of the Soviets trumped the astronauts of the Americans.
Gagarin launched off from Tyuratam Missile range in Kazakhstan, and orbited for 108 minutes to become the first man in space and the first to orbit around the Earth, travelling through darkness at the Pacific and watching the sun rise over the Atlantic.
After the success of the flight, Gagarin came back down to earth, but he didn’t stop there. He went on a worldwide tour and became a huge celebrity, visiting Italy, France, Germany and the UK.
Everywhere he went, he had a huge female following (nothing beats and astronaut), and as one story goes, he even had to jump out of a second story window in a hotel to get away from the mob at a resort in the Black Sea. Unfortunately, he didn’t quite stick the landing, and hit his head off a kerbstone, leaving a visible scar for the rest of his life.
So there’s one quick tip of what not to do when you finally become world-renowned for being the first Irishman in space. First though, you’ve got to be in it to win it, so head over to lynxapollo.ie and get signed up for your mission, that’s an order Cadet!
To find out more about the Lynx Space Academy and for your chance to be the first Irishman in space click here
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ podcast – listen to the latest episode now!
