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Author
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Topic: Hero Gagarin by Tito in TIME
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 11-07-2006 12:01 PM
   
TIME magazine's Europe, Middle East and Africa "Atlantic" edition is honoring 60 Years of Heroes in celebration of their 60 years in print. First space traveler Yuri Gagarin made TIME's 60-person list under the category of "Inspirations and Explorers". Dennis Tito, the world's first self-funded space tourist, who launched in 2001 from the same pad as Gagarin used in 1961, contributed the magazine's essay honoring the cosmonaut: quote:
I am among that generation of men and women who were inspired by Gagarin and found ourselves dreaming of following him into the unknown. We viewed his heroic deed not just as a win for Russia in the space race, but as something we suspected would shape our future in ways we couldn't even imagine or comprehend. He made us wonder what lay beyond our solar system. He made a nation coalesce in an effort to send a man to walk on the moon. The success of his flight secured the future of space exploration and the development of inventions and technologies that now enhance the daily lives of citizens worldwide.
Tito's essay appears on the magazine's website and in the November 13 issue of TIME Europe. |
sts205cdr
Member Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 11-08-2006 11:53 AM
With all due respect to Gagarin's accomplishment as human ballast, the man who "made a nation coalesce in an effort to send a man to walk on the moon" was John F. Kennedy, who was inspired to do so after Al Shepard's flight.Yuri Gagarin wasn't qualified to shine Al Shepard's boots. In my opinion, he's the most over-rated "explorer" in history. Just my 2 cents. --John |
ejectr
Member Posts: 1751
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 11-08-2006 12:18 PM
Anyone who straps on a rocket into space for the sake of innovation, exploration or a pure joy ride is OK in my book.Putting your life on the line doesn't come with qualifications IMHO. [Edited by ejectr (November 08, 2006).] |
Dwayne Day
Member Posts: 532
From:
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted 11-08-2006 12:58 PM
Slava Gerovitch has done some interesting research about the cosmonauts versus the astronauts. The cosmonauts had much less control over their vehicles and almost no input into their design. They were generally fighter pilots in their twenties, whereas the astronauts were test pilots in their thirties. It was a whole different level of involvement. |
Dave Clow
Member Posts: 236
From: South Pasadena, CA 91030
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 11-08-2006 03:59 PM
One of the true pleasures of being a space collector at this time is being able to greet people like Leonov and Tereshkova and Popovich, whom we might once have regarded as enemies, and to thank them for what they did. Gagarin didn't know if he'd make it back alive, and like it or not, he was the first. It takes nothing away from our American heroes to give the Soviets their due. |
dom
Member Posts: 855
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 11-12-2006 04:13 PM
To STS205 What a sad view you have expressed of Yuri Gagarin - THE FIRST MAN IN SPACE - someone who will be remembered for centuries... Read the book 'Starman' and you will discover what a real hero he was - and not just for that first flight. [Edited by collectSPACE Admin (November 12, 2006).] |
sts205cdr
Member Posts: 649
From: Sacramento, CA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 11-12-2006 06:50 PM
I really shouldn’t have said anything. After all, this was for a European edition of Time’s Hero list, and Gagarin and many other cosmonauts belong on it. I just took issue with the way Tito...well anyway, I shouldn’t have dragged Al Shepard into it, by comparison or otherwise. Gagarin was truly a brave man and I sincerely apologize to all for being disrespectful to his legacy, and to Robert for taking this thread off topic.I appreciate the comments and suggestions and will take them to heart. --John
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dom
Member Posts: 855
From:
Registered: Aug 2001
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posted 11-13-2006 01:17 PM
OK STS, maybe I over-reacted to your earlier post but you really should be careful what you write - this site really is read all over this small globe of ours!Yes, we all know the early astronauts were much better pilots but that didn't make them any more special or braver than the Russian guys who strapped themselves onto a rocket and hoped for the best. Your apology seems sincere - so fair play to you for not turning this thread into a nasty 'war of words'. |
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