Today in History - April 12, 1961 First Man in Space

[WildBill]

April 12, 1961 Russians launched Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into space. He was the first human being to journey into outer space, when his Vostok spacecraft completed an orbit of the Earth.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shutt ... rsary.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Skiprr]

Rather ironic that today is also the day when NASA'a decision was announced to snub Space City--the home of Mission Control, Johnson Space Center, and United Space Alliance--in its bid to become home to one of the four retired space shuttles.

[Divided Attention]

My Daddy is turning over in his "urn"! As a antive Houstonian and long time NASA fan I am sorely disappointed in the decision to send a shuttle to New York rather than Johnson.

[jmorris]

Also the first shuttle launch (30 years ago) and the start of the civil war (150 years ago).