Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin (9 March 1934 – 27 March 1968) was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut who became the first human to journey into outer space. Travelling in the Vostok 1 capsule, Gagarin completed one orbit of Earth on 12 April 1961. By achieving this major milestone in the Space Race he became an international celebrity, and was awarded many medals and titles, including Hero of the Soviet Union, his nation's highest honour.  Read more..

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On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (1934-1968) became the first man to be sent into space aboard the capsule Vostok 3KA-2, making a complete revolution around the Earth during 108 minutes. The Post of Moldova ("Poşta Moldovei") had commemorated the 40th anniversary of this USSR feat (less than a month before the first similar flight by US astronaut Alan Shepard) by issuing a special stamp (L 1.80, design : Victor Țurea, print run : 200,000) on April 12, 2001 featuring a portrait of Gagarin and Vostok capsule. The Post of Moldova also celebrated the 45th anniversary (prepaid envelope issued on April 12, 2006) and the 50th anniversary (souvenir sheet issued on April 9, 2011) of this first manned space flight. . Read more..