Russians launch astronaut into orbit. 
  
On this day Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin became the first human being to travel into space aboard spacecraft Vostok, which orbited the Earth at a maximum altitude of 187 miles. During the flight the 27 year old test pilot and industrial technician also became the first man to orbit the planet, a feat accomplished by his space capsule in 89 minutes.  In total Gagarin was in space for one hour and 48 minutes.                                          

Adolf Eichmann trial enters the second day in Israel, Russians hail the success of Major Yuri Gagarin, the first Russian Cosmonaut to journey into space.                                                                                         

A report on the first Russiam Cosmonaut in space Major Yuri Gagarin.  

See ATA# 13529 for more details.                        

Highlights: Reports on Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, comments by visitors in Moscow, details of launching and orbit, emphasize "the triumph of socialism" in this scientific feat.                           

Highlights: More on Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in space, Kennedy evaluates the position of the US in space, Soviets deny that an earlier attempt failed, Israeli prosecutor defends Israel's right to try Eichmann for crimes against Jews.                                     

Highlights: More news on US space lag, Eichmann trial off for one day, a hotel is damaged by a bomb in Havana, General Edwin Walker reported to be indoctrinating his troops on extremist John Birch Society ideas. John Welsch in a row with a newsman on the question of calling Eisenhower a communist, New York Senator Jacob Javits comments on the society, suggests an investigation, Adam Clayton Powell freed on an income tax charge.                                      

Highlights: Moscow prepares to receive Yuri Gagarin, Krelim boasts of superiority, challenges US in the space race, US Congressman says US lags in space, President Kennedy says the US will not directly overthrow Castro but will aid others to achieve that end.           

Highlights: Moscow prepares gala reception for Major Yuri Gagarin, commentary on space flight boasts of socialism in the triumph of science and engineering, Gagarin relates observation of his flight.                          

The US tries to find out why it lags behind Russia in the space race, Russia venerates Yuri Gagarin, plans for future space flights, Russians refuse to yield on nuclear test ban talk.                   

Moscow's reception for Yuri Gagarin.             

Highlights: Yuri Gagarin receives a hero's welcome in Moscow, he's greeted by Nikita Khrushchev, more anti-Castro sabotage in Cuba, Castro accuses President Kennedy of being an arsonist, a rebel uprising in Angola, UN sends Indian troops to Congo, planes airlift 2100 troops, Senators Alexander Wiley and Estes Kefauver Hassel over electrical price fixing,                           

The space race between the United States and Russia. 

This sequel to "THE RACE FOR SPACE," David L. Wolper's first entry into producing independent documentaries for television, provides the first complete look behind the US and USSR manned space efforts and includes exclusive films of Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's epic space flight, the development of American's Mercury astronaut program and a look into the future of space exploration.

Originally aired in 1959. 

Narrated by Mike Wallace.                                       

Violence in Panama, Ted Koppel reports, Robert Kennedy in Salt Lake City, a bomb threat is reported, Bob Clark reports, Hubert Humphrey defends Democratic policy in a fiery speech, declares Johnson "great President," Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin to be buried after dying in an air crash. Negro riots in Memphis, Tennessee as Dr. Martin Luther King peace march fails.  

Host: Bob Young.                                       

The funeral of Yuri Gagarin, Peter Burns in Fort Gordon, Georgia with a report on the sniper defense program, unrest predicted in the Summer. Dan Rather, Bill Plant, and Jeff Guralnick with Vietnam news.

Joined in progress.              

The Yuri Gagarin funeral.