Kennedy messages Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev , congratulating him on the successful launch of Vostok 1 .
April 12 -- The Soviet Union 's launch of Yuri Gagarin into low Earth orbit aboard Vostok 1 marks the first time a human being is launched into outer space .
Kennedy messages Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev , congratulating him on the successful launch of Vostok 1 .
April 12 -- The Soviet Union 's launch of Yuri Gagarin into low Earth orbit aboard Vostok 1 marks the first time a human being is launched into outer space .