The first manned spaceflight took place in 1961. This historic journey was undertaken by Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin aboard the spacecraft Vostok 1 on April 12, 1961. Gagarin became the first human to travel into space, completing one orbit around Earth in about 108 minutes. This achievement marked a significant milestone in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union, advancing human exploration beyond our planet. Gagarin's flight not only demonstrated the feasibility of human space travel but also inspired generations to pursue careers in science, engineering, and space exploration.