The First Space Travellers

Published in Travel and Leisure on Tuesday, August 26th 2025 at 7:06 GMT by rediff.com
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From Laika to the Moon: The Pioneers Who First Left Earth Behind

When the Rediff.com “Slide‑Show” series launched “The first space travellers” on 26 August 2025, it was less a list than a visual timeline, a gallery of iconic moments that captured humanity’s daring leap into the void. Each slide, a vivid snapshot, was linked to deeper stories—articles that traced the lives, training, and legacy of the very first astronauts, cosmonauts, and even the very first animal to brave Earth’s orbit. Below is a narrative that pulls together those threads, enriching the original images with the context and human drama that underlay each historic flight.

1. Laika – The First Animal in Space

The slide‑show opens with the haunting portrait of Laika, the Soviet stray dog who became the first living creature to orbit Earth. Laika’s 1957 launch aboard Sputnik 2 marked a bold, if tragic, test of human engineering. The article linked to the slide explains that while Laika’s flight was intended to gather data on life‑support systems, the spacecraft was not equipped to return her safely, and she died shortly after reaching orbit. The tragedy drew global attention to the ethical questions of space research, and Laika’s legacy lives on in modern animal‑testing protocols and the annual “Laika Day” commemorations.

2. Yevgeny “Yuri” Gagarin – The First Human in Space

A few clicks later, we find the image of a jubilant Gagarin stepping out of Vostok 1, the first spacecraft to carry a human into orbit. His 12‑minute flight on 12 April 1961 from Baikonur Cosmodrome made him an instant hero. The linked article provides a detailed chronology of Gagarin’s rapid rise—from a sergeant in the Soviet Air Force to the chosen pilot of the Vostok program. It recounts his rigorous training, including high‑altitude jumps and simulated spacecraft environments, and offers a rare look at his humble personality: a penchant for humor, a love of music, and an unassuming view that spaceflight was “just another job.”

The article also notes that Gagarin’s death in 1968, during a routine training flight, turned him into a martyr of the space race. His legacy is still celebrated in Russia and beyond: a statue stands in his hometown of Gagarin, a city named after him, and the 1960s‑era phrase “the Earth is our planet” echoes in his televised speech, “We are now a few steps away from the stars.”

3. Gherman Titov – The Second Human and the First Day‑Long Orbiter

Titov, a colleague and training partner of Gagarin, follows on the slide‑show. His 1961 flight aboard Vostok 2 achieved the first 24‑hour orbit, setting a new benchmark for human endurance in space. The linked article details Titov’s background as a Soviet Air Force officer and the psychological stress he endured during his one‑day mission, including the first recorded instance of an astronaut waking up in orbit and realizing he had no way to return to Earth without a pre‑planned re‑entry. Titov later became a celebrated Soviet pilot and later a cosmonaut instructor, illustrating the close-knit nature of early space crews.

4. Alan Shepard – The First American in Space

Across the Atlantic, the slide‑show presents the iconic image of American astronaut Alan Shepard aboard Freedom 7. Shepard’s sub‑orbital flight on 5 May 1961, lasting just under five minutes, made him the first U.S. citizen to reach space. The article linked to the slide reveals how Shepard, a former naval test pilot, was selected as one of the original “Mercury Seven.” It explains that his flight was essentially a high‑altitude rocket jump, achieving a ceiling of 115 km, but the significance lay in breaking the psychological barrier that America faced in the Cold War. Shepard later returned to the space program as commander of the Apollo 14 crew, famously hitting two golf balls on the Moon.

5. John Glenn – The First American Orbiter

John Glenn’s 1962 orbital flight aboard Friendship 7 marked the United States’ first manned orbit. The slide‑show shows him floating inside the capsule, while the accompanying article details Glenn’s earlier career as a U.S. Air Force test pilot who had logged more than 200 missions. Glenn’s four orbits, a total of 100 km above Earth, were broadcast live, captivating millions. The article notes how Glenn’s return was a media sensation, with his voice crackling through radio as he re‑entered the atmosphere. His later life as a U.S. Senator and his record‑breaking spaceflight at age 77 in 1998 underline a life that transcended the early space race.

6. Valentina Tereshkova – The First Woman in Space

Tereshkova’s photo appears on a slide that celebrates her 1963 mission aboard Vostok 6. The linked article highlights how Tereshkova, a factory worker from Moscow, was selected from a pool of 400 women for her calm demeanor and fitness. She spent almost three days in orbit, a milestone that opened doors for women in STEM worldwide. The article discusses her later career as a space policy advocate and her role in the International Space Station program, cementing her place as a trailblazer for female astronauts.

7. Alexei Leonov – The First Spacewalk

A dramatic slide shows Alexei Leonov floating tethered to Vostok 6’s capsule during the first extravehicular activity (EVA) on 18 March 1965. The linked article dives into the technical challenges Leonov faced: the early spacesuits were too stiff, and he had to contend with a lack of tether control. Leonov’s EVA, lasting just 12 minutes, was a triumph of human ingenuity and a symbolic act that showed the world that humans could work outside the confines of a spacecraft. The article notes his later role as a cosmonaut instructor and his post‑career advocacy for space science in Russia.

8. The Legacy of the First Space Travellers

The final slide of the series returns to the collective image of humanity’s first steps into the void. The linked articles bring a closing perspective: how the early astronauts and cosmonauts paved the way for subsequent missions, from the Apollo Moon landings to the International Space Station. They highlight the common threads of bravery, perseverance, and curiosity that defined these pioneers. The article emphasizes how modern space agencies—NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, CNSA, and private companies—continue to build on the groundwork laid by these early figures.

Beyond the Images: Where to Learn More

Each slide was a gateway to deeper stories. Readers could click on the linked Rediff articles for in‑depth biographies, rare archival footage, and interviews with family members. The series also referenced contemporaneous primary sources—mission logs, NASA transcripts, and Soviet archival documents—that provided insight into the technical details and human emotions that defined the era.

The slide‑show’s visual narrative, coupled with the scholarly depth of its links, offers a comprehensive view of the people and animals who first dared to leave Earth. Their legacy is a testament to the human spirit’s unquenchable desire to explore, to push the limits of possibility, and to remember that every great leap begins with a single step—or in this case, a single launch.

Read the Full rediff.com Article at:
[ https://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-the-first-space-travellers/20250826.htm ]

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