Yuri Gagarin for schools

Yuri Gagarin made history in 1961 when he became the first human to travel into space. His adventure lasted only 108 minutes as he completed a single orbit of the Earth, but his achievement thrilled the world.

Our actor portraying Yuri Gagarin will talk about how his boyhood dream of flying led him to become a space traveller – a cosmonaut. Your students will be hooked as he describes the intensive training he went through to prepare for his mission, and explains what it was like to travel solo in the cramped Vostok spacecraft orbiting the Earth at 28,000 km/h.

This lively encounter includes plenty of opportunity to ask questions and is an ideal accompaniment to classroom work about space.

To continue the space theme at the Museum, book to see one of the stunning space films in our IMAX 3D Cinema, visit the Exploring Space gallery and take a look at the Apollo 10 Command Module in Making the Modern World.