On April 12, 1961, Yuri Gagarin completed the first human spaceflight. In 1968, Gagarin died in an aviation accident near the village of Novoselovo in the Vladimir region.
In 1971, the crew of Apollo 15 placed a memorial on the Moon dedicated to fallen astronauts. The monument features an aluminum figurine and a plaque listing 14 names, including Yuri Gagarin.
Before humans, various animals were sent into space. The United States launched fruit flies on a V-2 rocket, reaching an altitude of approximately 100 kilometers. Dogs Belka and Strelka were the first animals to successfully orbit and return alive.
Turtles were the first creatures to orbit the Moon. Scientists selected them for their ability to survive with minimal oxygen and food, as well as their capacity to enter a state similar to hibernation.
