GAGARIN ABC NEWS SPECIAL REPORT ON TV, April 12, 1961

[altfactor]

Alan Shepard learned in mid-January of 1961 that he would be first of the Mercury 7 to go into space, but that was not made public until May 2nd, the day of the first launch attempt.

Speculation outside of NASA was that John Glenn would go first.

[vitoduval]

I hope the plane can get built but as the saying goes

"no bucks, no Buck Rogers"

[vitoduval]

1:15 The USSR space launch plane is similar to Stratolaunch that was announced today. 

At least John Glenn got a second spaceflight, which Yuri did not get