Who was the first man in space?

The Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space when he made a full orbit of Earth in Vostok I on April 12, 1961. Although he was in space less than two hours, he became an international hero. The United States launched the first American into orbit on February 20, 1962: Astronaut John Glenn completed three orbits of Earth in Friendship 7, traveling about 81,000 miles (130,329 kilometers).

The Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first man in outer space. He rode aboard the Vostok I in 1961. (NASA)