Yuri Gagarin and the superstitions of space
The first man in space features heavily in Russian cosmonauts' pre-mission rituals. Tell us what superstitions you follow
- guardian.co.uk,
- Article history
Many cosmonaut superstitions focus on Yuri Gagarin. Photograph: Mikhail Grachyev/AP
It was 50 years ago today that Yuri Gagarin became the first human to travel in space. But as we celebrate the anniversary of this feat of human ingenuity, some may not be aware that an industry defined by precision and cutting edge technology is also one of superstition and ritual.
The legacy of Gagarin himself is the backdrop to many of the rituals performed by Russian cosmonauts before they embark on a mission. They leave a red carnation at his memorial wall, visit his old office and ask permission from his ghost before launch. More bizarre is the tradition of male cosmonauts urinating on the right rear wheel of the bus used to transfer them to the launch site (women have the option of dashing a cup of their own urine on the wheel too). And while Nasa astronauts are apparently more reserved, they'll still always eat a breakfast of steak and scrambled eggs on the morning of lift-off.
What little rituals do you have before setting off on a big adventure or important task? Are you the superstitious type?
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