On January 11, 2010 the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center marked its 50th Anniversary.
50 years ago on January 11, 1960 the commander-in-chief of Soviet Air Force, Air Chief Marshal K.Vershinin issued Number 321141 directive about founding the Cosmonaut Training Center in the structure of Soviet Air Force (military unit 26266).
Russian post card devoted to Marshal K.Vershinin.
The Cosmonaut Training Center was created not far from Moscow.
First this place was named as Zelyoni gorodok (Green town) then it was named as Zvyozdny gorodok (Star town).
In 1968, the Cosmonaut Training Center was named after Yuri Gagarin, the first man to fly in space.
In 1968, the USSR Minister of Defence ordered to celebrate the Cosmonaut Training Center’s birthday on April 12, to mark the date of the first human space mission as well.
Until April 2009, the Center was owned and operated by the Russian Ministry of Defense in cooperation with Russian Federal Space Agency. On April 2009, Russian President signed a presidential decree transferring the center from the Defense Ministry to the Russian Federal Space Agency.
The last military Chief of the Centre was cosmonaut V.Tsibliev.
Now the Chief of the Centre is cosmonaut S.Krikalev. Attachments: | 
