Uploaded March 2012 | Updated September 2026, 22 hours ago
On April 12, 1961, the Soviet born Yuri Gagarin did something no other man on the planet ever had, he flew to space aboard the Vostok 1 and successfully orbited the earth. This successful mission prompted the US and NASA to build their space travel program. On May 5, 1961, not even a month after Gagarin's first launch, Alan Shepard boarded the Freedom 7 and became the first American to travel into space. This achievement would fuel the space race between the US and Soviet Russia for years to come.
For more footage like this visit History's Playlist:
youtube.com/user/HistorysPlaylist?feature=mhee
On April 12, 1961, the Soviet born Yuri Gagarin did something no other man on the planet ever had, he flew to space aboard the Vostok 1 and successfully orbited the earth. This successful mission prompted the US and NASA to build their space travel program. On May 5, 1961, not even a month after Gagarin's first launch, Alan Shepard boarded the Freedom 7 and became the first American to travel into space. This achievement would fuel the space race between the US and Soviet Russia for years to come.
For more footage like this visit History's Playlist:
youtube.com/user/HistorysPlaylist?feature=mhee
