The first man to fly in space was Yuri Gagarin, a Soviet cosmonaut, who made history on April 12, 1961. His spacecraft, Vostok 1, completed one orbit around Earth, marking a significant milestone in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Gagarin's journey lasted approximately 108 minutes and was a monumental achievement that showcased human capability and the advancements of the Soviet space program. His success catapulted him to global fame, and he became a symbol of national pride for the USSR during the Cold War era. Gagarin's legacy continues to inspire space exploration today.