Display replica of the SK-1 spacesuit for the Vostok program, which succeeded in placing the first human into space, Yuri Gagarin, in a single orbit in Vostok 1 on April 12, 1961. As such, the SK-1 has the unique distinction of being the first spacesuit ever used and, subsequently, has served as the basis for all future pressure suits conceived for Soviet and American space programs alike. The SK-1 was successfully used by cosmonauts for all six Vostok missions between 1961 and 1963. The helmet, a low-fidelity copy of the Vostok helmet that is fabricated from fiberglass, features a molded plastic visor frame and the visor is fixed in a partially open position. The helmet shell bears no inner lining and has been taped together. Similar to the one worn by Gagarin, the top of the helmet has been marked by hand in red paint, "CCCP.”
The suit torso, which has been fabricated from scavenged parts of Soviet high-altitude suits, has no pressure bladder and the umbilical connector is a solid resin casting replica. The bright orange load-bearing Lavsan outer layer, which allowed recovery helicopters to more easily spot the cosmonaut on the ground or in the water, is a factory-made reproduction that is missing the right arm mirror. The suit is missing the flotation bladder and hose, the gloves are replicas, and the boots are not SK-1 examples. Based on the materials and fabrication methods, the suit is clearly a low-fidelity reproduction for display. In very good to fine condition, with wear and fading to fabric, and noticeable wear and cracks to the helmet.
