Gagarin's Life Timeline
Gagarin’s Life shows the documented life of an ordinary boy who grew up to succeed at doing what every ordinary boy dreamed of and became the world’s first spaceman. Several sources have been cross referenced and collated to create the most comprehensive timeline of Yuri Gagarin’s life on the web.
Yuri Gagarin is most famously known for being the first human to orbit the Earth. This timeline has been created to celebrate his life in general.
In the 34 years of his life, Gagarin had a childhood, brothers and a sister. He grew up during the second world war and witnessed dreadful events. He left home at 15 to further his education instead of becoming a farmer or carpenter, like his father. Then trained beyond the limits of many men to travel in space. After the flight he was a worldwide celebrity as well as a husband and father of two girls. His entire life was just as amazing as the 108 minutes that made him famous!
This timeline will always be a ‘work in progress’ and will be updated with new/reliable information.
If you have extra information or know of an event that conflicts with anything you read below please contact us, with your information and the source.
COMING SOON: Links to photographs that correlate with each event will be added. All photographs are courtesy of RIA Novosti - please contact Ralph Gibson: photos@novosti.co.uk
Due to the variety of English spellings of Russian names, Vix Southgate has endeavoured to be as accurate to the phonetic spelling as possibly or the most widely used spelling on the internet for ease of research.
For accuracy: ë is pronounced yo as in Korolëv = Korolyov.
| 09 March 1934 | Yuri Alexeyevich Gagarin is born | More info | |
| 01 September 1940 | Gagarin enrols at the 1st class Klushinskoy Junior High School | More info | |
| 1941 | Gagarin and his Brother Valentin are 'shown the stars' by his Uncle Pavol | More info | |
| Spring 1941 | World War II - German invasion of the USSR begins | More info | |
| 12 October 1942 | Klushino is attacked and occupied by the German army | More info | |
| Spring 1943 | Valentin and Zoya are abducted by the SS | More info | |
| 09 April 1943 | The Germans retreat from Gzhatsk | More info | |
| Late 1943 | Valentin and Zoya escape the labour camp and are drafted as volunteers into the Soviet Army. | More info | |
| 24 May 1945 | The Gagarin family move to Gzhatsk | More info | |
| Late 1945 | Valentin and Zoya return home | More info | |
| 1946 | Gagarin is inspired by ex-airman teacher | More info | |
| May 1949 | Gagarin finishes in the sixth grade of Gzhatsk Junior High School | More info | |
| Summer 1949 | Gagarin moved in with his Uncle, Savely Ivanovich | More info | |
| 30 September 1949 | Gagarin begins his studies at the Lyubertsy Vocational School No.10 | More info | |
| 1950 | During 1950 Gagarin continues his studies in Lyubertsy. | More info | |
| 1951 | Graduated from Lyubertsy Vocational School No.10 -from seventh grade | More info | |
| 1951 | Enrols at Saratov Industrial Technical School | More info | |
| 04 September 1953 | Gagarin continues studies at Saratov Industrial Technical School | More info | |
| 04 September 1954 - 01 October 1955 |
Gagarin signed up at the Saratov Oblast Flying Club | More info | |
| 14 March 1955 | First Parachute Jump | More info | |
| 1955 | Gagarin graduates from Saratov Industrial Technical School | More info | |
| July 1955 | First Solo Flight in YAK 18 | More info | |
| 27 October 1955 | Gagarin was drafted into the Soviet Army and sent to study in Orenburg at the Voroshilov 1st Chkalovsk Military Aviation School | More info | |
| November 1955 | Gagarin makes the rank of Cadet | More info | |
| 1956 | Gagarin met Valentina Goryachev | More info | |
| 22 February 1956 | Gagarin makes rank of Aviation Cadet Sergeant and is permitted to fly. | More info | |
| 26 March 1957 | First Solo Flight in MiG-15 jet | More info | |
| 04 October 1957 | The Soviet Union launch SPUTNIK-1 into orbit | More info | |
| 27 October 1957 | Gagarin marries Valentina Goryacheva | More info | |
| 05 November 1957 | First army posting after passing out of Orenburg with excellent grades and made rank of Lieutenant in the Soviet air force | More info | |
| 06 November 1957 | Gagarin graduates from the Voroshilov 1st Chkalovsk Military Aviation School | More info | |
| 1958 | During 1958 Gagarin is still posted at Nikel Airbase. | More info | |
| 10 April 1959 | First child, Elena, born | More info | |
| 05 October 1959 | Gagarin Submitted request for cosmonaut training (unconfirmed) | More info | |
| 24 October 1959 | Gagarin makes Senior Airman | More info | |
| 06 November 1959 | Gagarin receives the rank of First Lieutenant | More info | |
| 11 January 1960 | Gagarin is approved for cosmonaut training | More info | |
| 25 February 1960 | Soviet Air Force Cosmonaut Training Group 1 selected | More info | |
| 08 March 1960 | Assigned to Cosmonaut training and sent to Star City | More info | |
| 18 June 1960 | Gagarin Meets Sergei Korolëv - The Chief Designer. | More info | |
| 19 August 1960 | BELKA and STRELKA are launched into space on board SPUTNIK 5 | More info | |
| Autumn 1960 | Gagarin continues his training at Star City | More info | |
| 06 January 1961 | Cosmonaut crew selection | More info | |
| 17&18 January 1961 | Cosmonaut examinations | More info | |
| 07 March 1961 | Second child Galya Born | More info | |
| 15 March 1961 | Gagarin brings Valentina and Galya home from hospital. | More info | |
| 16 March 1961 | Cosmonauts head to Tyuratam | More info | |
| 19 March 1961 | Plans for filming the First cosmonaut in space - discussed | More info | |
| 25 March 1961 | Gagarin and Titov don their spacesuits and practise the timings for travelling in lift to capsule | More info | |
| 28 March 1961 | ZVYOVDOCHKA and IVAN IVANOVICH are launched on board SPUTNIK 10 | More info | |
| 3 April 1961 | Vostok first manned spaceflight authorised. | More info | |
| 7 April 1961 | 3 hours of training on Manual landing | More info | |
| 8 April 1961 | Discussions of World record registration and Kamanin recommends Gagarin as pilot and Titov as backup. | More info | |
| 09 April 1961 | Kamanin informs Gagarin and Titov of the selection of Gagarin to be the first man in space. | More info | |
| 10 April 1961 | Gagarin confirmed for launch on 12/04/61 | More info | |
| 11 April 1961 | At 13:00 Gagarin meets a group of soldiers, NCOs and Officers | More info | |
| 11 April 1961 | Gagarin and Titov go to cottage for last night before launch | More info | |
| 11 April 1961 | At 21:30 Korolëv comes to the cottage | More info | |
| 12 April 1961 | YURI ALEXEYEVICH GAGARIN ORBITS THE EARTH IN THE VOSTOK-1 CAPSULE | More info | |
| 12 April 1961 | Gagarin attends a Celebratory Dinner at 19:00 UTC | More info | |
| 15 April 1961 | Gagarin in Moscow | More info | |
| Became commander of the cosmonaut detachment. | More info | ||
| 17 April 1961 | Gives Television Interview | More info | |
| 18 April 1961 | Gagarin undergoes 6 days of intensive physical test and observation | More info | |
| 21 April 1961 | Gagarin on the cover of Time Magazine | More info | |
| 28 April 1961 | Gagarin visit PRAGUE in Czechoslovakia | More info | |
| 01 May 1961 | Gagarin attends the May Day parade in Moscow | More info | |
| 25 May 1961 | Gagarin visits Bulgaria | More info | |
| 30 June 1961 | FINLAND | More info | |
| 11 July 1961 10:55 | Gagarin arrives in Britain at London Heathrow Airport | More info | |
| 11 July 1961 11.00 | Gagarin is driven from London Heathrow Airport to Soviet Embassy House in Kensington | More info | |
| 11 July 1961 11:45 | Gagarin arrives at the Soviet Embassy. | More info | |
| 11 July 1961 13:00 | Gagarin arrives at the Soviet Exhibition at Earl's Court | More info | |
| 11 July 1961 | Earl's Court Luncheon | More info | |
| 11 July 1961 15:00 | Gagarin attends a press conference in the fashion theatre of the Soviet Exhibition | More info | |
| 11 July 1961 16:15 | Gagarin is awarded the first British Interplanetary Society gold medal | More info | |
| 11 July 1961 16:30 | Gagarin leaves Earl's Court | More info | |
| 11 July 1961 17:30 | Gagarin attends a reception at the Soviet Embassy | More info | |
| 12 July 1961 10:00 | Gagarin arrives at Ringway airport, Manchester | More info | |
| 12 July 1961 10:45 | Gagarin visits the Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers | More info | |
| 12 July 1961 11:30 | Gagarin visits Metropolitan Vickers in Trafford Park | More info | |
| 12 July 1961 12:45 | Gagarin is taken to the Town Hall for a reception and civil banquet. | More info | |
| 12 July 1961 15:45 | Gagarin lays a wreath at the Manchester Cenotaph | More info | |
| 12 July 1961 16:30 | Gagarin flies back to London | More info | |
| 13 July 1961 10:00 | Gagarin leaves the Soviet Embassy | More info | |
| 13 July 1961 11:00 | Gagarin visits Mansion House and meets the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Bernard Waley-Cohen | More info | |
| 13 July 1961 11:45 | Gagarin visits the Tower of London | More info | |
| 13 July 1961 12:45 | Gagarin attends a reception and lunch at Royal Society, Burlington House | More info | |
| 13 July 1961 15:20 | After having returned to the Soviet Embassy briefly, Gagarin leaves for his next engagement | More info | |
| 13 July 1961 15:45 | Gagarin visits Admiralty House in Whitehall for a 25 minute meeting with the Prime Minister Harold MacMillan | More info | |
| 13 July 1961 16:15 | Gagarin lays a wreath at the Cenotaph in Whitehall | More info | |
| 13 July 1961 16:50 | Gagarin attends a reception at the Air Ministry in Whitehall | More info | |
| 13 July 1961 17:30 | Gagarin attends a Garden Party at the Society for Cultural Relations (now SCRSS) in Kensington Square | More info | |
| 13 July 1961 | Gagarin attends a reception hosted by the Great Britain-USSR Association at Hyde Park Hotel | More info | |
| 13 July 1961 19:45 | Gagarin was due to meet with te Moscovites at the Dorchester Hotel, but this meeting was cancelled | More info | |
| 13 July 1961 22:15 | Gagarin returns to the Soviet Embassy | More info | |
| 14 July 1961 12:35 | Gagarin leaves the Soviet Embassy | More info | |
| 14 July 1961 12:50 | Gagarin attends an informal lunch with Her Majesty The Queen | More info | |
| 14 July 1961 14:45 | Gagarin returns to the Soviet Embassy | More info | |
| 14 July 1961 15:30 | Gagarin speaks to thousands of children at the Soviet Exhibition at Earl's Court | More info | |
| 14 July 1961 16:40 | Gagarin returns to the Soviet Embassy where he is presented with a travelling suitcase from the British-Soviet Friendship Society | More info | |
| 14 July 1961 17:30 | Gagarin visits Highgate Cemetary | More info | |
| 14 July 1961 21:00 | Gagarin is interviewed on BBC Television | More info | |
| 14 July 1961 21:30 | In a live broadcast from Earl's Court, Gagarin answers questions from Richard Dimbleby, Tom Margerison and Yuri Fokin | More info | |
| 14 July 1961 | Gagarin photographed in Fleet Street | More info | |
| 15 July 1961 11:00 | Gagarin leaves the Soviet Embassy for London Heathrow Airport | More info | |
| 15 July 1961 11:45 | More info | ||
| 15 July 1961 12:35 | Gagarin waves from the steps of the plane. | More info | |
| 15 July 1961 18:05 | Gagarin arrives in Moscow | More info | |
| Short article in Ottowa Citizen Paper with regards to British reception of YG | More info | ||
| ICELAND | More info | ||
| 20 July 1961 | Poland - First Day in Warsaw | More info | |
| 24 July 1961 | Scheduled to arrive at Havana airport, Cuba | More info | |
| 25 July 1961 | Arrived Cuba in Lashing rain | More info | |
| 27 July 1961 | Rally with Castro in Cuba during 4 day trip | More info | |
| 28 July 1961 | Flies out of Havana, Cuba | More info | |
| 29 July 1961 | BRAZIL | More info | |
| Early August 1961 | CANADA | More info | |
| 21 August 1961 | HUNGARY | More info | |
| 27 August 1961 | World Tour Completed | More info | |
| 01 September 1961 - 02 March 1968 |
Student of Computer Engineering | More info | |
| 14 Sept - 03 Oct 1961 | Gagarin in the Crimea | More info | |
| 29 November 1961 | Asian Tour Yuri Heads for India | More info | |
| 07 December 1961 | Sri Lanka | More info | |
| 12 December 1961 | Afghanistan | More info | |
| 15 December 1961 | Asian Tour Ends | More info | |
| 2 Feb 1962 | UAR Almaza | More info | |
| 6 Feb 1962 | EGYPT | More info | |
| Dinner with President Nasser in Ciaro | More info | ||
| Pyramids | More info | ||
| 15 Feb 1962 | GREECE | More info | |
| Acropolis | More info | ||
| 12 June 1962 | LTC Made Lieutenant Colonel (early) | More info | |
| 05 January 1963 | Hospital for an appendix operation | More info | |
| 06 July 1963 | Hospital for tonsillectomy | More info | |
| 03 September 1963 | Eiffel Tower | More info | |
| 14 September 1963 | Eiffel Tower | More info | |
| 27 September 1963 | PARIS | More info | |
| Galabert Astronautical Prize 1962 | More info | ||
| Gagarin meets the Soviet Ambassador to France - M. Vinogradov | More info | ||
| 02 October 1963 | Pureaux (outside Paris) | More info | |
| 06 November 1963 | Received the rank of COLONEL (ahead of schedule) | More info | |
| 1963 | Named Commander of the Cosmonaut Group | More info | |
| April 1965 | Reentered mission training as a backup cosmonaut. | More info | |
| 1965 | Enrolled in the Zukovsky Institute of Aeronautical Engineering | More info | |
| 11 June 1965 | PARIS - Paris Air show at La Bourget | More info | |
| 1967 | Began training for the first Soyuz Flight | More info | |
| 17 February 1968 | Graduated with Honors as Cosmonaut Engineer | More info | |
| 27 March 1968 | Final flight | More info | |
| 27 March 1968 | Colonel Yuri Gagarin's MiG15UTI crashed, killing Gagarin and his instructor, Colonel Vladimir Seryogin | More info | |
| 30 March 1968 | Buried | More info |
*UTC – Coordinated Universal Time (GMT can be classed as the equivalent, when fractions of a second are not important)
Information sources include: The internet, newspaper archives and photographic archives
Image reference: RIA Novosti photos@novosti.co.uk
Many thanks go to Vix Southgate for researching and assembling this timeline.