Gagarin very nearly didn't become the first man to successfully return from space

Tiraspol, Moldova. Photo by Dmitry Shulga on Unsplash

The exploits of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space 61 years ago, are worth remembering for their unadulterated bravery and sheer chutzpah. As previously noted, a 2010 survey by the non-profit Space Foundation found Gagarin to be the sixth-most-popular space hero, tied with the fictional Star Trek Captain Kirk. So, even though it’s frowned upon in certain circles these days to praise anything Russian, Gagarin should be the exception.

By all accounts, he was a brave, genuinely gentle and joyous man. Last year, the 60th anniversary of Gagarin’s ride into space, saw the publication of ‘Beyond’, a book by Stephen Walker, which captured the extraordinary dangers that marked every step of that Soviet triumph.

For, though the Soviets bested the Americans in manned space flight with Gagarin’s successful ride to and fro, there was so much that could have gone so badly wrong.

First, there was the Soviet cosmonaut candidates’ relative lack of ex…