The Nome Nugget

Young Russian Astronaut Orbits The Earth In One Hour and Half

By Stanley Johnson

MOSCOW (AP) - A young Russian astronaut has orbited around the world in an hour and a half, radioing back reassurances along the way, and landed safely after the first human conquest of space.

This was disclosed by the Soviet Union today in an announcement hailing one of history's greatest scientific accomplishments. It also has great military significance and raises the prospect of further Soviet firmness in dealing with the affairs of the world.

Mankind's first space traveller, Maj. Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, was in orbit one hour and 29 minutes before reverse blasts permitted his ship to settle back to earth by parachute. He was in the air a total of one hour 48 minutes.

This is how Moscow radio described what took place:

The space ship was rocketed into the air at 9:07 a. m. and 15 minutes later the swarthy young pilot radioed "the flight is proceeding normally. I feel well."

17,000 Miles an Hour

Less than an hour later, as he whistled around the globe at more than 17,000 miles an hour - six times faster than man ever traveled before - he reported he was withstanding his state of weightlessness well.

"I am watching the earth," he said. "The visibility is good. I hear you well."

The space ship made one swift turn around the globe. Then, according to a Soviet scientific writer, the ship was slowed by reverse blasts and soon settled to earth by parachute.

The points of departure and landing were not announced.

Praise was heaped on the astronaut by Premier Khrushchev.

Soviet Space Achievement Brings Expressions of Chagrin at Capitol

WASHINGTON (AP) - At the capitol today there were expressions of chagrin over another Soviet first in the space contest, and calls for abandonment of the "eight-hour day and five-day week" in U. S. space efforts to keep it from happening again.

But officials of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, accepting the Soviet reports at face value, said they have racked up firsts of their own which disappointed the competition. They said U. S. efforts will continue on a planned, step-by-step basis.

One of the chief speed-up advocates was Rep. Overton Brooks, (D-La.), Chairman of the House Space Committee, who said the event "puts the pressure on us."

Sen. Robert S. Kerr, (D-Okla.), agreed the Soviets had made "a fantastic, fabulous achievement." but said he still believes this country is ahead on an over-all basis.

Another who urged speed was Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey, (D-Minn.). who said America must "wake up completely to the challenge."

Sen. Mike Mansfield of Montana, the Senate Democratic leader, conceded the achievement was "one of the most remarkable in the scientific history of mankind" but urged that this country pursue its planned course.

while Soviet publications and radio stations went wild with joy.

So did the man in the street.

Reds In Fever of Excitement

Tonight in a fever of excitement, Russians heard, for the first time in history, the sound of a human voice coming from outer space. Moscow radio broadcast what it called a recording of a conversation Gagarin had with the earth control center while he was in orbit. The atmospherics were heavy but his words, in a deep voice, were understandable. These were the messages reporting his flight progressing normally.

There was no advance word to tracking stations outside the Soviet Union, and apparently none of them caught the space craft while it was in orbit. Washington Space officials said there was a trace of the rocket case which split away from the man-carrying capsule. The last-stage rocket may stay aloft a couple of weeks, a Smithsonian scientist said at Cambridge, Mass.

Moscow radio triumphantly blared the news to every corner of the Soviet Union and it struck with enormous impact around the world.

Sir Bernard Lovell of Britain's Jodrell Bank Observatory called it "the greatest scientific achievement in the history of man."

President Kennedy, hailing "an outstanding technical accomplishment," sent congratulations to Soviet scientists and engineers.

Space Hop Will Make Khrushchev a Hard Man to Deal With

WASHINGTON (AP) - The latest space achievement by the Soviet Union is expected to harden the diplomacy of Soviet Premier Khrushchev and make him a more difficult man for President Kennedy to deal with.

U. S. officials agreed privately today that the launching and recovery of a man-carrying space vehicle is not only an historic feat but one which is certain to strengthen Khrushchev's determination to get his own way more and more on outstanding issues.

Already the lines of a diplomatic conflict are sharply drawn at many points. Examples include Laos, Berlin, disarmament, and the United Nations.

Ever since the Soviet Union put the first satellite into orbit more than three years ago students here of Soviet affairs have noticed a toughening trend in the policy conduct of Khrushchev, even when he was talking most enthusiastically about the need for East-West negotiations and was urging peaceful settlement of all disputes.