On this day

12 April in history.

5 moments from 1937 to 1981: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

Ceremonial portrait of the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin with awards

1961

Yuri Gagarin goes to space. Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space, circling Earth once in Vostok 1. "Let's go!" he said as he lifted off.

Wikipedia: Yuri Gagarin

Photo: Александр Моклецов / СовИнформБюро / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

More from 12 April

  1. Frank Whittle adjusts a slide rule while seated at his desk at the Ministry of Aircraft Production

    1937

    The first jet engine runs

    Frank Whittle tested the first jet engine built to power an aircraft, at Rugby in England.

    Wikipedia: Frank WhittleWikipedia: Jet engine

    Photo: British Government / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  2. Child receiving polio vaccine

    1955

    The polio vaccine works

    Scientists announced that Jonas Salk's vaccine was safe and effective. Church bells rang across America at the news.

    Wikipedia: Polio vaccineWikipedia: Jonas Salk

    Photo: USAID / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  3. Terry Fox

    1980

    Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope

    Having lost a leg to cancer, Terry Fox dipped his artificial leg in the Atlantic at St. John's and set out to run across Canada to raise money for research.

    Wikipedia: Terry FoxWikipedia: Terry Fox

    Photo: Jeremy Gilbert / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

  4. STS-1

    1981

    The first Space Shuttle flight

    Columbia launched on STS-1, the first flight of a reusable spaceship, exactly 20 years after Gagarin's flight.

    Wikipedia: STS-1Wikipedia: Space Shuttle Columbia

    Photo: NASA / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.