First in Space, Forever

This is Cosmonautics Day in Russia, held each year in celebration of the flight of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to reach outer space and orbit the Earth. That was 47 years ago today. The Western counterpart of Cosmonautics Day is Yuri's Night. It is worth noting that Gagarin was 5'2" tall, exactly the height of Daria Morgendorffer, which was of great help in allowing him to fit inside the cramped pilot's cabin of Vostok I.

At left, in this same vein, is shown the courageous attempt to put the first quarterback into space: the launch of Kevin Thompson from Big Gun One in the main parking lot of Lawndale High School, just before his graduation ceremony in 2001. Donations in his memory may be sent to Cedars of Lawndale Hospital, the Runamok Ambulance Service, and the City of Lawndale Streetsweepers Union.

Note: A monument was just built to Laika, the first living being to orbit the earth. Laika was mentioned in "A Hard Days' Night." Had to tell you that. (Good dog.)