Fact check: Yuri Gagarin never returned to space after 1961 flight

In short: Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space in 1961, and he never flew in space again, but reports say he did want to return.

The details

A phrase that circulates in podcasts and social posts says “the man who went to space and never wanted to go back.” The best match for that “man who went to space” is Yuri Gagarin, the Soviet pilot who made history on April 12, 1961.

On that date, Gagarin became the first person to travel into outer space and orbit Earth. Orbiting means he went around the planet like a satellite, instead of going up and coming straight back down. Major references, including Britannica, say he never went into space again after that mission.

But the “never wanted to go back” part is shaky. BBC reporting tied to the 50th anniversary of the flight says Gagarin wanted to fly again. A more accurate version is simpler: he never returned to space, even though he stayed involved in the space program and helped train other cosmonauts.

Other astronauts can sound similar if you only hear the tagline. Scott Carpenter, the second American to orbit Earth, never flew in space again after a mission that ended with a missed landing. Gene Cernan, the last person to walk on the Moon, is known for comments that suggested he wanted to stay longer.

Source: NYTimes