TODAY MARKS THE 50th anniversary of man’s first journey into space by astronaut Yuri Gagarin, who blasted off on 12 April 1961 with the famous words “Poekhali!” – or “Let’s go!”
Ahead of the anniversary of Gagarin’s flight, Russia has released previously classified documents that show his last conversation before take off on his 108-minute flight – in which he got down to the important business of dinner with chief rocket designer Sergei Korolyov, the Space.com reports.
“There in the flap you have dinner, supper and breakfast,” Korolyov said.
“Got it,” Gagarin replied.
“You’ve got sausage, candy and jam to go with the tea,” Korolyov continued. “Sixty-three pieces – you’ll get fat! When you get back today, eat everything right away.”
Garagin replied jokingly: “The main thing is that there is sausage – to go with the moonshine”.
Tuesday marks two prominent space anniversaries: the 50th anniversary of man’s first journey into space and the 30th anniversary of the first space shuttle launch. The six humans circling the Earth said on Monday they will join in the celebrations from the best vantage point of all — orbit.
“We’re going to spend the day tomorrow recognising it in probably the best place you possibly can, that’s on orbit and looking at our beautiful Earth,” said American astronaut Ronald Garan Jr. He arrived at the International Space Station last week.
The space station’s Russian commander, Dmitry Kondratyev, said the human dream of flying to the stars came true with Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s flight.
Twenty-three days later, American Alan Shepard became the second man in space.
The space station astronauts will get Tuesday off as a special holiday. They will hold a news conference and link up with celebrations in Moscow, then enjoy a celebratory feast Tuesday evening.
Additional reporting by AP
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