Even Gagarin’s family, including his wife Valentina, his parents, and his children, did not know what would happen on April 12, 1961.
© RIA Novosti . Yuri Abramochkin / Go to the mediabankEven Gagarin’s family, including his wife Valentina, his parents, and his children, did not know what would happen on April 12, 1961.
Even Gagarin’s family, including his wife Valentina, his parents, and his children, did not know what would happen on April 12, 1961.
© RIA Novosti . Yuri Abramochkin / Go to the mediabankTwo days before the flight, Yury Gagarin wrote a letter to his wife, which he hoped she would never read. The letter was to be handed over to Valentina Gagarin in the event of his death. Gagarin wrote, “I firmly believe in technology” and asked his wife not to “grieve over him too much” should something go wrong.
Two days before the flight, Yury Gagarin wrote a letter to his wife, which he hoped she would never read. The letter was to be handed over to Valentina Gagarin in the event of his death. Gagarin wrote, “I firmly believe in technology” and asked his wife not to “grieve over him too much” should something go wrong.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankIn his letter, Gagarin also asked his wife to take care of their daughters and love them as he did.
In his letter, Gagarin also asked his wife to take care of their daughters and love them as he did.
© RIA Novosti . I. Snegirev At the end of the letter, Gagarin asked Valentina not to forget about his parents: “Ask them to forgive me for not telling them anything they weren't supposed to know.”
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© RIA Novosti . I. Snegirev
At the end of the letter, Gagarin asked Valentina not to forget about his parents: “Ask them to forgive me for not telling them anything they weren't supposed to know.”
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankAfter his death, this letter was to be handed over to Valentina, as Gagarin had requested.
After his death, this letter was to be handed over to Valentina, as Gagarin had requested.
© RIA Novosti . Ukhtomskiy / Go to the mediabankThis is one of the last photos of Yury Gagarin. He is with his daughters: Yelena (left) and Galina. The photo was taken on February 9, 1968. A month and a half later, on March 27, Gagarin was to die in an air crash.
This is one of the last photos of Yury Gagarin. He is with his daughters: Yelena (left) and Galina. The photo was taken on February 9, 1968. A month and a half later, on March 27, Gagarin was to die in an air crash.
Yury Gagarin with his father.
Yury Gagarin with his wife, Valentina.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankMarch 1965. Yury Gagarin with his wife, Valentina, and daughters, Galina and Yelena.
March 1965. Yury Gagarin with his wife, Valentina, and daughters, Galina and Yelena.
Yury Gagarin and his family.
© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankAfter his space missions, Gagarin travelled and met with people a great deal. Sometimes he had to address audiences 20 times a day. However, in summer he still managed to go to the Crimea Peninsula with his family.
After his space missions, Gagarin travelled and met with people a great deal. Sometimes he had to address audiences 20 times a day. However, in summer he still managed to go to the Crimea Peninsula with his family.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankAs the first man in space, Yury Gagarin soared to world fame. He received thousands of letters from all over the world. His entire family had to help him sort the mail.
As the first man in space, Yury Gagarin soared to world fame. He received thousands of letters from all over the world. His entire family had to help him sort the mail.
© RIA Novosti . Alexandr Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankIn many other ways, the lives of the Gagarins were hardly different from those of other Soviet families.
In many other ways, the lives of the Gagarins were hardly different from those of other Soviet families.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankA typical Saturday evening at the Gagarins'.
A typical Saturday evening at the Gagarins'.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankYury Gagarin on vacation with his family in Crimea.
Yury Gagarin on vacation with his family in Crimea.
© RIA Novosti . Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankJuly 21, 1966. Yury Gagarin on vacation with his daughter Galina in Crimea.
July 21, 1966. Yury Gagarin on vacation with his daughter Galina in Crimea.