Today in Astronomy History

[Albireo380]

On April 11th 1970, Apollo 13 was launched. Many of us remember the nail biting tension as the astronauts grappled with a damaged craft, after an explosion in the Command Module. They splashed down safely on April 17th.

Yuri Gagarin was launched into the first manned space flight on April 12th 1961. He reached a top speed of 17,500mph in Vostok 1. He made one full circuit of the Earth. at a hight ranging from 180 to 327 miles, remaining aloft for only 1hr 48 min.

Tom

[The Warthog]

Gagarin was killed in March, 1968, while on a training flight in a MiG 15. The exact cause of the crash has not been determined.