Home This Week in History This Week in History: The Soviet Union’s Historic First Human Spaceflight This Week in History: The Soviet Union’s Historic First Human SpaceflightApril 30, 2026 NOVA MCGILL Contributor On April 12, 1961, the Soviet Union achieved one of the most dramatic milestones in human history: launching the first human into… Login to continue reading Login Sign up for complimentary access Sign Up Now Close Previous Post United States Stove Company