Until the first flight of a man into the outer space the fundamental question to be answered was whether a man is capable of adequate perception of time and space under drastically new conditions. In connection with the 25-th anniversary of man's first flight into the space the author tells about psychological selection and training of the first cosmonauts. Some reminiscences about Yu.A. Gagarin and his personality, about the first day of the cosmic era, as well as his own observations and self-observations during the flight are provided. Gagarin's personal scientific contribution to cosmic psychology is also discussed.