Space · April 12, 1961

First Human in Space

Name: First Human in Space
Start: 1961-04-12
Location: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

65 years ago · Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

65th anniversary

Yuri Gagarin orbits Earth aboard Vostok 1, becoming the first human in space.

The 66th anniversary falls on April 12, 2027.

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People involved1

1934–1968

Yuri Gagarin

Soviet cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space aboard Vostok 1.

SpaceWould be 92

View profile Photo (modified): Alexander Mokletsov / RIA Novosti · CC BY 4.0

Born on April 124

April 12 →

b. 1942

Jacob Zuma

Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma (born 12 April 1942) is a South African politician who served as the fourth president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018. Zuma was a former anti-apartheid activist, member of uMkhonto weSizwe, and president of the African National Congress (ANC) from 2007 to 2017.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

PoliticsAge 84

View profile Photo (modified): Presidential Press and Information Office / Пресс-служба Президента России · CC BY 4.0

b. 1961

Lisa Gerrard

Lisa Germaine Gerrard ( jə-RARD; born 12 April 1961) is an Australian musician, singer and composer. She is a former (and founder) member of the group Dead Can Dance, which she formed with music partner Brendan Perry.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

MusicAge 65

View profile Photo (modified): Lisa Gerrard · CC BY-SA 3.0

1933–2018

Montserrat Caballé

María de Montserrat Bibiana Concepción Caballé i Folch or Folc (12 April 1933 – 6 October 2018), simply known as Montserrat Caballé (i Folch), was a Spanish (Catalan) operatic soprano.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

MusicWould be 93

View profile Photo (modified): Unknown author · Public domain

b. 1947

David Letterman

David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

TelevisionAge 79

View profile Photo (modified): SSGT REYNALDO RAMON, USAF · Public domain

Also on this day4

1861

Battle of Fort Sumter

The Battle of Fort Sumter (also the Attack on Fort Sumter or the Fall of Fort Sumter) (April 12–13, 1861) was the bombardment of Fort Sumter near Charleston, South Carolina, by the South Carolina militia. It ended with the surrender of the fort by the United States Army, beginning the American Civil War.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

War

2014

War in Donbas

The war in Donbas, also called the Donbas war, was a phase of the Russo-Ukrainian war in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine. The war began in April 2014, when Russian-backed paramilitaries began an uprising against the Ukrainian government, seized territory and declared independent states.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

War

2015

2015 Chinese Grand Prix

The 2015 Chinese Grand Prix (formally known as the 2015 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race that was held on 12 April 2015 at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Sports

2026

2026 Hungarian parliamentary election

Parliamentary elections were held in Hungary on 12 April 2026 to elect all 199 members of the National Assembly. It was the 10th parliamentary election and the highest-turnout election since Hungary's transition to democracy in 1990.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Politics