Editing Vostok 1 (section)

==Flight==
[[File:Гагарин перед полётом.jpg|thumb|left|Gagarin with [[Sergei Korolev|Korolev]] (right) before the flight]]
At 05:30 Moscow time, on the morning of 12 April 1961, both Gagarin and his backup Titov were woken.<ref>Burgess and Hall, p.153</ref> They were given breakfast, assisted into their spacesuits, and then were transported to the launch pad. Gagarin entered the ''Vostok 1'' spacecraft, and at 07:10 local time (04:10 UTC), the radio communication system was turned on. Once Gagarin was in the spacecraft, his picture appeared on television screens in the launch control room from an onboard camera. Launch would not occur for another two hours, and during the time Gagarin chatted with the mission's main [[Flight controller#Spacecraft communicator (CAPCOM)|CapCom]], as well as Chief Designer [[Sergei Korolev]], [[Nikolai Kamanin]], and a few others,{{r|siddiqi2000}}{{Reference page|page=274}} periodically joking and singing songs.<ref>{{cite journal |date=2001-04-17 |title=Подготовка изделия идет нормально |trans-title=The preparation of the product is going well. |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/253987 |journal=Kommersant-Vlast |language=ru |volume=15 |page=50 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828200559/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/253987 |archive-date=28 August 2021 |access-date=2 April 2024}}</ref> Following a series of tests and checks, about forty minutes after Gagarin entered the spacecraft, its hatch was closed. Gagarin, however, reported that the hatch was not sealed properly, and technicians spent about 15 minutes removing all the screws and sealing the hatch again.<ref name="chrono">{{Cite web |title=Подлинная история полета Гагарина. Юрий Батурин рассказывает, как человечество зашло на новый виток |trans-title=The True Story of Gagarin's Flight. Yuri Baturin Tells How Humanity Entered a New Turn |url=https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2021/04/11/podlinnaia-istoriia-poleta-gagarina |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415092404/https://novayagazeta.ru/articles/2021/04/11/podlinnaia-istoriia-poleta-gagarina |archive-date=2021-04-15 |access-date=2021-04-15 |language=ru}}</ref> According to a 2014 obituary, Vostok's chief designer, [[Oleg Ivanovsky]], personally helped rebolt the hatch.<ref>Obituary, [[Aviation Week and Space Technology]], September 29, 2014, p.11-</ref> There is some disagreement over whether the hatch was in fact not sealed correctly, as a more recent account stated the indication was false.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}}

During this time Gagarin requested some music to be played over the radio.<ref>Siddiqi, p.276; neither Siddiqi, nor Hall and Shayler claim that music was actually played after this request.</ref> Korolev was reportedly suffering from chest pains and anxiety, as up to this point the Soviet space launch rate was 50% (12 out of 24 launches had failed).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/@sukantkhurana/vostok-1-first-manned-spaceflight-in-history-f19849d21649|title=VOSTOK 1 : FIRST MANNED SPACEFLIGHT IN HISTORY|last=Khurana|first=Sukant|date=2018-05-04|website=Sukant Khurana|access-date=2018-08-02}}</ref><!--If this was the 24th launch with 12 previous failures, the success rate was 11/23, or 48%, at this point immediately prior to the launch of Vostok 1. Cannot find data to support if there were 23 or 24 previous launches.--> Two Vostoks had failed to reach orbit due to launch vehicle malfunctions and another two malfunctioned in orbit. Korolev was given a pill to calm him down.<ref>Siddiqi describes it as a "tranquilizer pill", while Hall and Shayler describe it as a "cardiac pill".</ref> Gagarin, on the other hand, was described as calm; about half an hour before launch his [[pulse]] was recorded at 64 beats per minute.{{r|siddiqi2000}}{{Reference page|page=276}}

===Launch===
[[File:Vostok1.jpg|thumb|Yuri Gagarin aboard Vostok 1, as televised to ground control]]
{{Listen
| filename     = Gagarin-Poyekhali.ogg
| title        = ''Poyekhali!''
| alt          =
| description  = Gagarin's voice
}}
* '''06:07 [[UTC]]''' Launch occurred from the [[Baikonur Cosmodrome]] [[Gagarin's Start|Site No.1]]. Korolev radioed, "Preliminary stage..... intermediate..... main..... lift off! We wish you a good flight. Everything is all right." Gagarin replied, "Let's go! (''Poyekhali!'')."<ref>Hall and Shayler, p.150</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Whiting |first=Melanie |date=2018-03-27 |title=Remembering Yuri Gagarin 50 Years Later |url=http://www.nasa.gov/feature/remembering-yuri-gagarin-50-years-later |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=NASA}}</ref>
* '''06:09''' (T+ 119 s) The four strap-on boosters of the Vostok rocket used up the last of their propellant and [[R-7 (rocket family)#Korolev Cross|dropped away from the core vehicle]].
* '''06:10''' (T+ 156 s) The payload shroud covering Vostok 1 was released, uncovering a window at Gagarin's feet, with an optical orientation device {{lang|ru-Latn|Vzor}} (lit. "look" or "glance").
* '''06:12''' (T+ 300 s) The rocket core stage used up its propellant and fell away from the capsule and final rocket stage. The final rocket stage ignited.
* '''06:13''' Gagarin reported, "...the flight is continuing well. I can see the Earth. The visibility is good.... I almost see everything. There's a certain amount of space under cumulus cloud cover. I continue the flight, everything is good."
* '''06:14''' Vostok 1 passed over central Russia. Gagarin reported, "Everything is working very well. All systems are working. Let's keep going!"
* '''06:15''' Three minutes into the burn of the final rocket stage, Gagarin radioed, "{{lang|ru-Latn|Zarya-1, Zarya-1}}, I can't hear you very well. I feel fine. I'm in good spirits. I'm continuing the flight..." Vostok 1 started to move out of radio range of the Baikonur ground station.
* '''06:17''' The rocket final stage shut down and Vostok 1 reached orbit. Ten seconds later the rocket separated from the capsule.

===Time in orbit===
[[File:Vostok 1 orbit english.png|thumb|right|Ground trace of Gagarin's complete orbit; the landing point is west of the takeoff point because of the Earth's eastward rotation.]]
* '''06:18''' UTC (T+ 676 s) Gagarin reported, "The craft is operating normally. I can see Earth in the view port of the {{lang|ru-Latn|Vzor}}. Everything is proceeding as planned". Vostok 1 moved on over [[Siberia]] as it passed over the Soviet Union.
* '''06:21''' Vostok 1 passed over the [[Kamchatka Peninsula]] and out over the North Pacific Ocean. Gagarin radioed, "...the lights are on on the descent mode monitor. I'm feeling fine, and I'm in good spirits. Cockpit parameters: pressure 1; humidity 65; temperature 20; pressure in the compartment 1; first automatic 155; second automatic 155; pressure in the retro-rocket system 320 atmospheres...."
* '''06:25''' As Vostok 1 began its diagonal crossing of the Pacific Ocean from Kamchatka Peninsula to the southern tip of South America, Gagarin requested information about his orbital parameters: "What can you tell me about the flight? What can you tell me?". The ground station at [[Khabarovsk]] didn't have his orbital parameters yet, and reported back, "There are no instructions from No. 20 [code name for Korolyov], and the flight is proceeding normally." (Ground control did not know until 25 minutes after launch that a stable orbit had been achieved.)
* '''06:31''' Gagarin transmitted to the Khabarovsk ground station, "I feel splendid, very well, very well, very well. Give me some results on the flight!". At this time, Vostok 1 was nearing the VHF [[radio horizon]] for Khabarovsk, and they responded, "Repeat. I can't hear you very well". Gagarin transmitted again, "I feel very good. Give me your data on the flight!" Vostok 1 then passed out of VHF range of the Khabarovsk ground station.
* '''06:37''' Vostok 1 continued on its journey as the sun set over the North Pacific. Gagarin crossed into night, northwest of the [[Hawaiian Islands]]. Out of VHF range with ground stations, communications continued via HF radio.
* '''06:46''' Khabarovsk ground station sent the message "KK" via telegraph (on HF radio to Vostok 1). This was a code meaning, "Report the monitoring of commands," a request for Gagarin to report when the spacecraft automated descent system had received its instructions from ground control.
* '''06:48''' Vostok 1 crossed the equator at about 170° West in a southeast direction, and began crossing the South Pacific. Gagarin transmitted over HF radio, "I am transmitting the regular report message: 9 hours 48 minutes (Moscow Time), the flight is proceeding successfully. Spusk-1 is operating normally. The mobile index of the descent mode monitor is moving. Pressure in the cockpit is 1; humidity 65; temperature 20; pressure in the compartment 1.2 ... Manual 150; First automatic 155; second automatic 155; retro rocket system tanks 320 atmospheres. I feel fine...."
* '''06:49''' Gagarin reported he was on the night side of the Earth.
* '''06:51''' Gagarin reported the sun-seeking attitude control system was switched on; this oriented Vostok 1 for retrofire. The automatic/solar system was backed up by a manual/visual system; either one could operate the two redundant cold [[nitrogen]] gas thruster systems, each with {{convert|10|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of gas.
* '''06:53''' The Khabarovsk ground station sent Gagarin via HF radio, "By order of No. 33 (General [[Nikolai Kamanin]]), the transmitters have been switched on, and we are transmitting this: the flight is proceeding as planned and the orbit is as calculated." Vostok 1 was now known to be in a stable orbit; Gagarin acknowledged.
* '''06:57''' Vostok 1 was over the South Pacific between New Zealand and [[Chile]] as Gagarin radioed, "...I'm continuing the flight, and I'm over America. I transmitted the telegraph signal "ON".
* '''07:00''' Vostok 1 crossed the [[Strait of Magellan]] at the tip of South America. News of the Vostok 1 mission was broadcast on Radio Moscow.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/april/12/newsid_2477000/2477715.stm |work=BBC News |title=1961: Soviets win space race |date=April 12, 1961}}</ref>
* '''07:04''' Gagarin sent another spacecraft status message, similar to the one at 06:48. This was not received by ground stations.
* '''07:09''' Gagarin sent another spacecraft status message, also not received by ground stations.
* '''07:10''' Vostok 1 passed over the South Atlantic, into daylight again. At this point, retrofire is 15 minutes away.
* '''07:13''' Gagarin sent a fourth spacecraft status message; Moscow received this partial message: "I read you well. The flight is going...."
* '''07:18''' Gagarin sent another spacecraft status message, not received by ground stations.
* '''07:23''' Gagarin sent another spacecraft status message, not received by ground stations.

The automatic orientation system brought Vostok 1 into alignment for retrofire about 1 hour into the flight.