Human Spaceflights

International Flight-No. 5

Vostok 3

USSR

Patch Vostok 3

Launch, orbit and landing data

Launch date:  11.08.1962
Launch time:  08:30 UT
Launch site:  Baikonur
Launch pad:  1
Altitude:  180,7 - 234,6 km
Inclination:  64,98°
Landing date:  15.08.1962
Landing time:  06:52 UT
Landing site:  48° 02' N, 75° 45' E
Andriyan Nikolayev

Crew

No.   Surname Given name Job Flight No. Duration Orbits
1 USSR  Nikolayev  Andriyan Grigoriyevich  Pilot Cosmonaut 1 3d 22h 22m  64 

Crew seating arrangement

1  Nikolayev
Vostok

1. Double Crew

No.   Surname Given name Job
1 USSR  Bykovsky  Valeri Fyodorovich  Pilot Cosmonaut
Valeri Bykovsky

2. Double Crew

No.   Surname Given name Job
1 USSR  Volynov  Boris Valentinovich  Pilot Cosmonaut
Boris Volynov

Flight

Launch from Baikonur; landing 200 km southeast of Karaganda.

Rendezvous-flight with Vostok 4; both spacecrafts came close to 5 km (visibility), although the Vostok-capsules had no maneuvering capability. They quickly drifted apart. Vostok 3 also conducted several scientific observations and further improvement of the space ship systems, communications (spaceship-ground-control and spaceship-to spaceship), guidance and landing. There were no problems with his spacesuit, there was only a minor problem with the Tral telemetry system.

A final "first" for Vostok 3 was Nikolayev's taking of colour movie footage of the Earth from orbit and from the cabin interior.

The re-entry was the same procedure as in the other Vostok-missions.

Photos / Drawings

Vostok spaceship Vostok rocket
Vostok reentry Vostok 3 recovery

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Last update on November 25, 2008.

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