RUSSIAN BACK FROM FLIGHT IN SPACE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29487, 13 April 1961, Page 15

RUSSIAN BACK FROM FLIGHT IN SPACE

Safe Return After Orbiting Earth (N .Z.P .A.-Reuter —Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) MOSCOW, April 12. The world’s first spaceman landed safely in a predetermined spot in Russia today after orbiting the earth in a Soviet space* ship.

The astronaut, Pilot Major Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, is 27 years old, married, and has two daughters.

Major Gagarin, who was fired into orbit in a four and three-quarter ton spaceship named Vostok (East), was in radio communication with. Soviet tracking stations. Soviet scientists watched him on television screens.

On his orbit of the earth, Major Gagarin radioed back to earth these words: “The flight is normal. I feel well.” He was over South America at the time. Later, over Africa, he said: “I am withstanding the state of weightlessness well.” Tass said the spaceship landed at 835 a.m. (G.M.T.) and that Major Gagarin said: “Please report to the party and Government and personally to Nikita Khrushchev: The landing was normal, I feel well. I have no injuries or bruises.” Major Gagarin was 108 minutes in flight and made one orbit of the earth.

The pilot's report that he was well wcs blared over loudspeakers in the Soviet capital, which was blanketed with a heavy fall of snow. Associated Press said. Muscovites clustered around radios to listen to news of the historic achievement, but there was no immediate dancing in the streets. However, it will be a big night in the clubs, cultural palaces and restaurants of the Soviet Union tonight.

Scientists around the world hailed the Soviet achievement. The Young Communist League entered the name of Gagarin, in its book of honour calling him an “outstanding example of selfless service to the homeland.”

Mr Khrushchev sent Major Gagarin a personal telegram saying: "Dear Yuri Alekseyevich: It is a great joy to me to congratulate you heartily on the occasion of the outstanding heroic feat —the first cosmic flight in the Vostok spaceship satellite. “The entire Soviet people

acclaims your valiant feat, which will be remembered down the centuries as an example of courage, gallantry and heroism in the name of service to mankind. “The flight made by you opens up a new page in the history of mankind in its conquest of space. It fills the hearts of the Soviet people with great happiness and pride for their Socialist motherland.

“With my whole heart. I congratulate you on your happy return to the homeland from your space journey. I embrace you. Until our meeting in Moscow soon.” The announcement came after three days of rumours that the Russians had at last achieved the first man’s break-through into the Cosmos. Official Announcement

The official Tass announcement said: "The world’s first spaceship, Vostok, with a man on board, has been launched on April 12 in the

Soviet Union on a round-the-earth orbit “The first space navigator is a Soviet citizen, Pilot Major Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin. Bilateral radio communication has been established and is maintained with Gagarin. “The satellite spaceship with, space navigator weighs 4725 kilogrammes, excluding the weight of the final stage of the carrier-rocket.” The Tass text continued: “The launching of the multistage space rocket was successful and after attaining the first escape velocity and the separation of the last stage of the carrier-rocket, the spaceship went into free flight on a round-the-earth orbit.

“According to preliminary data, the period of the revolution of the satellite spaceship around the earth is 89.1 minutes. The minimum distance from the earth (at perigee) is 175 kilometres and the maximum at the apogee is 302 kilometres. The angle of inclination of the orbit plane to the equator is 65 deg. 4min.” The Tass text continued: “The frequencies of the short-wave transmitters on board are 0.019 megaherz and 20.0006 megaherz and in the ultra short-wave range 143.625 megaherz. “The condition of the navigator in flight is observed by means of radio, telemetric and television systems. “Feels Well” “Space navigator Gagarin stood satisfactorily the placing of the satellite ship Vostok into orbit and at present feels well. The systems ensuring the necessary vital conditions in the cabin of the satellite spaceship are functioning normally. “The satellite spaceship Vostok with navigator Gagarin on board is continuing its flight in orbit.” The announcement of the flight into space was repeated three times, after which the normal radio programme of music was continued. The title of the announcement as given over Moscow Radio was: “The first human flight into the cosmos.” Moscow Radio reported: “After having orbited the earth, a special brake installation was switched on and the cosmic ship started coming down in order to land in a special pre-set area of the Soviet Union.” Soviet Progress The first step leading towards today’s dramatic announcement was taken on October 4. 1957. when Russia told a startled world that she had hurled the first sputnik into space. The 1841 b sphere reached a maximum height of 560 miles, and people all over the world listened to the first sounds they had heard from outer space—the eerie “bleep bleep” from the earth satellite. A month later. Russia went further ahead in the space race. Not only did she hurl a second sputnik into orbit but it carried the first space traveller—a dog named Laika. Laika also became the first space casualty, dying as the 11201 b earth satellite circled the earth. More earth satellites were launched—by both Russia and America—but it was not until last August that the first space passengers were brought back safely to earth. It was another Soviet triumph. The dogs Belka and Strelka orbited the earth and landed safely in a four-and-a half-ton earth satellite. They lived to have pups. Earlier in the year. Russia sent another dog named Albina up 280 miles and back in a rocket. Russia then stepped up her “animals-into-space” trafficdogs. guinea pigs, mice and insects—all paving the way for today’s announcement. Last month, when the tests with animals were almost completed, leading Soviet scientists said that their first space man would only travel a few hours in orbit before returning to earth.