Cosmonaut
Yuri Gagarin
Yuri Gagarin was born on March 9, 1934 in Gzhatsk, Russia. He orbited Earth aboard Vostok 1 at age 27 and died in a plane crash at 34.
Yuri Gagarin was born in 1934 and lived to age 34. Anyone born before 1934 is older than Yuri. Anyone over 34 is older than Yuri ever was.
Born
March 9, 1934
Gzhatsk, Russia
World pop: ~2.2B
Died
March 27, 1968
World pop: ~3.6B
Yuri's age at death
34
Your age
20
Are you older than Yuri Gagarin?
No — Yuri Gagarin was born in 1934. You were born in 2006, making you 72 years younger. Yuri lived to age 34. You are currently 20, so you are not yet older than Yuri was when he died.
At your age (20), Yuri hadn't yet reached his first major milestone. Yuri was 26 when he was selected as a cosmonaut — that's 6 years from now for you.
Yuri's Life Timeline
Yuri Gagarin was born on March 9, 1934, in Gzhatsk, Russia. He grew up in a working-class family and showed an early interest in aviation. After completing his education, he joined the Soviet Air Force, where he trained as a pilot. His passion for flying and his determination led him to apply for the Soviet space program, which was rapidly advancing during the Cold War era.
Read more
Gagarin's major career achievement came on April 12, 1961, when he became the first human to travel into space aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft. This historic flight lasted 108 minutes and completed one orbit around the Earth, making him an international hero and a symbol of Soviet space prowess. Following this monumental event, he toured the world, promoting the Soviet space program and inspiring future generations of astronauts and cosmonauts.
Yuri Gagarin's legacy as a pioneer of space exploration endures to this day. He continued to work in the space program until his untimely death in a plane crash on March 27, 1968, at the age of 34. Gagarin's contributions to space exploration have been commemorated through various awards, monuments, and the annual celebration of Yuri's Night, also known as the World Space Party, which honors human spaceflight.
Was selected as a cosmonaut
Yuri Gagarin was 26 years old when he was selected as one of the first cosmonauts for the Soviet space program in 1960. This selection was a significant milestone in his life, as it set the stage for his historic journey into space.
Yuri Gagarin was 26 years old when he was selected as a cosmonaut in 1960. Are you older than Yuri was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Orbited Earth aboard Vostok 1
Yuri Gagarin was 27 years old when he orbited the Earth aboard Vostok 1 on April 12, 1961. This mission made him the first human to travel into space, a groundbreaking achievement that marked a pivotal moment in the Space Race.
Yuri Gagarin was 27 years old when he orbited Earth aboard Vostok 1 in 1961. Are you older than Yuri was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Became an international hero
Yuri Gagarin was 27 years old when he became an international hero following his historic flight in 1961. His achievement garnered worldwide attention and made him a symbol of Soviet technological prowess during the Cold War.
Yuri Gagarin was 27 years old when he became an international hero in 1961. Are you older than Yuri was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Died in a plane crash
Yuri Gagarin was 34 years old when he tragically died in a plane crash on March 27, 1968. His untimely death was a significant loss to the field of space exploration and to the world, as he was a beloved figure.
Yuri Gagarin was 34 years old when he died in a plane crash in 1968. Are you older than Yuri was? Enter your birth year to compare.
Age by Year
| Year | Age | Notable Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 0 | |
| 1935 | 1 | |
| 1936 | 2 | |
| 1937 | 3 | |
| 1938 | 4 | |
| 1939 | 5 | |
| 1940 | 6 | |
| 1941 | 7 | |
| 1942 | 8 | |
| 1943 | 9 | |
| 1944 | 10 | |
| 1945 | 11 | |
| 1946 | 12 | |
| 1947 | 13 | |
| 1948 | 14 | |
| 1949 | 15 | |
| 1950 | 16 | |
| 1951 | 17 | |
| 1952 | 18 | |
| 1953 | 19 | |
| 1954 | 20 | |
| 1955 | 21 | |
| 1956 | 22 | |
| 1957 | 23 | |
| 1958 | 24 | |
| 1959 | 25 | |
| 1960 | 26 | was selected as a cosmonaut |
| 1961 | 27 | orbited Earth aboard Vostok 1 |
| 1962 | 28 | |
| 1963 | 29 | |
| 1964 | 30 | |
| 1965 | 31 | |
| 1966 | 32 | |
| 1967 | 33 | |
| 1968 | 34 | died in a plane crash |
