Yuri Gagarin's Flight: 40th anniversary

[Guacharo]

Yesterday was the Yuri Gagarin's flight 40th anniversary, and I just wonder what do russians think about him, nowaddays... I once talked with one russian, Serguei, who told me that Gagarin was nothing more than Soviet Propaganda, like Pavlik Morozov and other's so-called Soviet heros. But I think that Gagarin issue is completely different, I replied, then he totally disagree with me... Anyway, I just would like to know the russian (and foreing) impressions about this cosmonaut, and his impact in space history...

[Mariboulg]

You know,

When I was still living in USSR, they used to say that Gagarin was not dead, in stead, he was in a psyciatric hospital locked in. Gagarin become a myth, for russians because no one new realy what happened realy. Did he realy go to the space or no ?
I would like to belive that he did go !!!

[berlioz]

just by coincidence, I was using VDNKh metro station today, and opposite is the alley of Space Heroes and the Space Monument. On Gagarin's statue there were a lot of flowers

mb

[Guacharo]

I had understood that Gagarin had a wife, and kids, isn't it?

[aprzaveri]

I think Yuri and his other Cosmonut were the pioneer of the space technology that we have achived in past 40 years. I think this modern media would not have been possible if there was no space race. So I think in a way he had achived what they had planned. Even though in the end it took a dirty turn with deployment of missile technology and now American bargging on Star wars and defensive sheild and we all know that they are no way in the danger.But any way try to get positive out of it.

[berlioz]

I'm not in whole-hearted agreement here. I admire the bravery of the cosmonauts - it is not in any doubt.

But why - except for competition with the USA - did the USSR need a space program? What actual benefits have its people received from it? Think of the massive costs which were incurred... imagine the alternative, of using this money to build housing, develop and modernise industry, and provide a better standard of living for the people of the USSR instead?

Russia had a man in space... at the same time as nearly half the population did not have plumbing or hot water in their houses!!

The triumph of stupid burocratic chauvinism over the needs of the people they falsely claimed to represent?

mb

[Guacharo]

Berlioz:

You have a point there, but I think that was a different world back then... Cold war was at his highest peak, and space exploration was something to fight about for world leaders, specially the U.S., and the U.S.S.R. ... Back then, the priority was to look aggresive...
Anyway, the important thing, was not the bureocratic or propagandistic objectives of the Kremlin, but the achievment of Yuri...