A leading Russian space research scientist, Professor Alexander Topchiev - he is Vice-President of the Soviet Academy of Sciences - arriving in Copenhagen, Denmark, April 12, hailed the Soviet Union's first man in space.

Professor Topchiev arrived in a Soviet jetliner from Moscow on his way to the United States to give a lecture on Russia's space programme during centennial celebrations of Boston University.

With the news of Russia's first successful flight of man in space - the world's first - Professor Topchiev called reporters to a news conference: "I'm glad the first space traveller has come from Russia."
Professor Topchiev, responsible for major technical achievements in hurling man into space, set the world agog last year with the news of Russia's capabilities of sending a man up and around the world and bringing him back alive.