MOSCOW, RUSSIA — April 12 will be the 60th anniversary of the day in 1961 when Russia's Yuri Gagarin became the first human to leave Earth. <br /><br />Gagarin blasted into space on top of a Vostok K rocket. Once in space, the rocket's cargo bay opened to release the orbital module. <br /><br />This module's final-stage rocket powered it into its planned height before it was jettisoned. <br /><br />After orbiting around Earth once, in 89 minutes, Gagarin used the capsule's control panel, a small window, and a large optical alignment device to position the capsule for re-entry. <br /><br />He then used the service module's retro rocket to slow the capsule's descent before trying to detach his re-entry capsule from the service module, but disaster struck when the bands holding the capsule failed to detach. <br /><br />The capsule began to shake violently, but Gagarin was able to activate his ejection seat at a height of 7 kilometers. <br /><br />His seat separated successfully at a height of 4 kilometers and Gagarin parachuted down to touch Earth only 108 minutes after launching.
