The Soviet Union Leaps Forward: The 60th Anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's Space Flight

April 12 is the UN's International Day of Human Space Flight. Officially celebrated in Russia as the Cosmonautics Day, in 2021 it marks 60 years since Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. This Soviet accomplishment came at the height of the Cold War and not only affected the bilateral relationship, but also inspired American and Soviet citizens alike. Despite their fierce competition, the United States and the Soviet Union also managed to identify opportunities for cooperation in the exploration of outer space, which culminated in the joint Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975. Today, when bilateral tensions are high again, space remains one of the few remaining areas of productive interaction between Russia and the U.S. In this panel, our experts will consider the enduring legacy of Yuri Gagarin’s flight and its effects on popular culture and scientific innovation in the two countries, and will discuss the dynamic of space competition and collaboration since that flight.

Send questions to our panelists by email to kennan@wilsoncenter.org, tweet us @KennanInstitute, or post on our Facebook page.