Yuri Gagarin Quotes

The Smile That Stayed

After his flight, Gagarin traveled to 30 countries. Everywhere, London, Cairo, Tokyo, crowds erupted at his radiant smile. But fame weighed on him. He desperately wanted to fly again and fought to return to active duty. On March 27, 1968, during a routine training flight in a MiG-15, he crashed near Kirzhach. He was 34. The town of Gzhatsk was renamed Gagarin in his honor. Every April 12, cosmonauts worldwide raise a toast to the boy from Klushino who opened the sky.