Communists celebrate Gagarin's flight to space

Members of Russia's Communist Party laid flowers Wednesday at the tomb of Yuri Gagarin, marking the 62nd anniversary of the first human flight into space. Gagarin's 108-minute mission took the Space Age to a new level and marked a historic achievement for the Soviet Union, which beat the United States in a tight race to launch a man beyond Earth's atmosphere.

For the Soviet people, Gagarin's spaceflight was a triumph comparable to the victory over the Germans in World War II.It has remained a source of national pride since April 12, 1961, a symbol of bravery and technological prowess.