Yuri Gagarin
1934-1968
Who
Soviet pilot and cosmonaut - the first person to journey into outer space.
Why it matters
On 12 Apr 1961, at 6:07 UTC, he launched from Baikonur aboard Vostok 1 and completed one orbit of Earth in 108 minutes. The launch command was 'Poyekhali!' (literally 'Off we go!'). By achieving the milestone for the Soviet Union in the Space Race he became an international celebrity and earned his country's highest distinction: Hero of the Soviet Union. He died on 27 Mar 1968 when the MiG-15 he was piloting with flight instructor Vladimir Seryogin crashed near Kirzhach. His ashes rest in the Kremlin Wall.
Lineage
Built on Korolev's Vostok program (which built on Sputnik). Enabled everything that followed - every astronaut since has flown the path he opened.