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 medium-fidelity copy of the Vostok helmet that is fabricated from fiberglass, is painted gray similar to the Vostok helmet. The visor is moveable and the visor frame is metal and was utilized from a later suit type. The helmet shell with its detailed parts represents a medium-fidelity copy of the Vostok helmet. Similar to the one worn by Gagarin, the top of the helmet has been marked by hand in red paint, "CCCP.”
The suit torso has been fabricated from scavenged parts of Soviet high-altitude suits with the bulk of the torso fabricated to hold the cover layer; there is no pressure bladder in the suit. The umbilical connector is a solid metal replica with minimal detail, and the umbilical hoses are attached with screws to a fabricated metal plate for attachment to the suit torso and is non-representative of an authentic suit. 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 using the correct fabric. The watch band is absent and in its place is a pressure gauge from a later suit has been attached; the pressure gauge is not correct for the Vostok suit. The gloves are replicas and are absent of the pressure bladder but retain the correct overall design; the black boots are not the correct design for the suit. The suit flotation bladder and hose are the incorrect design for the suit and were obtained from current flotation equipment.
Based on the materials and fabrication methods, the suit is clearly a medium-fidelity reproduction for display. In very good to fine condition, with slight overall wear and marks, and the glove palms exhibiting some deterioration.
