Which mission is known for the first human space flight?

The mission known for the first human space flight is Vostok. This mission, launched by the Soviet Union on April 12, 1961, successfully sent cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into space, marking a significant milestone in human space exploration. Gagarin orbited the Earth once during his flight, which lasted approximately 108 minutes. This event represented a groundbreaking achievement in the Space Race, showcasing the capability of humans to travel into orbit and return safely to Earth.

While other missions, such as Apollo 11, were monumental because they landed humans on the Moon, they occurred later in the timeline of human space exploration. Mercury was an important early U.S. program that preceded the Apollo missions, but it did not achieve the historic first. Shenzhou is part of China's space program and represents more recent achievements in human spaceflight. Vostok, however, remains iconic for its initial step of sending humans into outer space.