The first human in space was Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut. He made history on April 12, 1961, when he orbited the Earth in the spacecraft Vostok 1. The flight lasted about 108 minutes, during which Gagarin completed one full orbit around the planet, reaching an altitude of approximately 327 kilometers (203 miles). His successful mission marked a significant achievement in the Space Race and the exploration of space, establishing Gagarin as an international hero and a symbol of Soviet science and technology during the Cold War era. His famous phrase, "Poyekhali!" (Let's go!), resonated worldwide.