Celebrating First Man in Space

It was 50 years ago that Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin became a pioneer and a hero by being the first person to venture into outer space.

In commemoration of his courageous flight on April 12, 1961, the Russian government has created 11 statues that will be installed all over the world, and lucky for us, Chicago’s Adler Planetarium has been chosen as one of the venues to receive a statue.

As the chair of the Moscow Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International, I am privileged to be working with the Adler Planetarium to organize a special event in honor of the new statue.

The event will take place on Oct. 19, and we are working hard to fly in several astronauts who worked with Gagarin for the celebration. The event will also include a lecture and an elegant reception. Stay tuned for additional details!

It’s wonderful that Russia’s contributions to science and space travel continue to inspire people everywhere, and I’m so proud that when the sculpture is dedicated, a little piece of Russia will be given to the city of Chicago.