Royal Albert Hall Free exhibition Organised by RIA Novosti and Science Photo Library, this exhibition marks the 50th anniversary of the first human journey into outer space, made by Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Featuring rarely seen photographs, "Poyekhali!" ("Off we go!") explores Gagarin's early life, his historic flight and the fame that followed him until his untimely death in 1968.

The exhibition is FREE and can be viewed when attending performances or on the following open days (entry through Door 1):
Saturday 25 June 11am - 3pm
Saturday 2 July 10am - 2pm
Sunday 3 July 11am - 3pm

Visit during one of our open days and you could be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets to BBC Proms in the Park, featuring Katherine Jenkins, Lang Lang and Westlife, on Saturday 10 September at 5.30pm.

The first man in space...and the man that put him there

Wine and talk evening, Elgar Room
Sunday 26 June, 6.30pm

Join science and cosmology writer Piers Bizony to find out more about the mysterious 'Chief Designer' who launched Yuri Gagarin into space fifty years ago, and what happened to the young space hero when he returned to earth. The evening also includes a private view of the exhibition.

Yuri Gagarin and the Dawn of Space Exploration

This exhibition, in Royal Albert Hall organised by RIA Novosti, Russia's leading news agency and Science Photo Library, will mark the 50th anniversary of the first human journey into space made by Yuri Gagarin.

Gagarin was a Soviet cosmonaut who, on 12 April 1961, became the first human to journey into outer space. As the rocket lifted off the pilot cried out 'Poyekhali!' ('Off we go!'). His subsequent visit to UK in July 1961 was a momentous occasion captured on camera.

The exhibition will focus on images leading up to the space mission, his subsequent visit to the UK and the fame that followed him until his untimely death in 1968. Some of the images will have never been seen before.

There will be a series of events taking place throughout the world to celebrate this anniversary. London will also see the unveiling of a statue of Gagarin on The Mall so it is a privilege for the Royal Albert Hall to be involved with this exhibition.

Fifty years ago, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to leave the Earth's atmosphere and venture into orbital space. Find out more about Sergei Korolev, the mysterious 'Chief Designer' who launched him, and discover what happened to the young space hero when he returned to earth.

From the terror of the gulags to the lure of the stars, the dawn of the Space Age reflects both the darkest and the most brilliant facets of 20th century history.

Piers Bizony writes about science, aerospace and cosmology for a wide variety of magazines, including Focus, New Scientist and the BBC's Sky at Night magazine. Among his many recent book projects is Atom, a tie-in book for a BBC TV series about the rivalries and passions at play during the discovery of quantum physics. His bookStarman, co-authored with film maker Jamie Doran, tells Gagarin's real story for the first time.

Piers is a regular speaker at the Cheltenham Science Festival and was recently invited to speak to Nasa.