Romania #1897 (1967) – Vostok 3 & 4

Description

Romania #1897 (1967) – Vostok 3 & 4

Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 were two spacecraft launched by the Soviet Union in 1962 as part of a joint mission. The primary goal of this mission was to achieve the first simultaneous manned spaceflight with multiple spacecraft in orbit. Here are the key details about Vostok 3 and Vostok 4:

1. Launch Date:
   • Vostok 3 was launched on August 11, 1962.
   • Vostok 4 was launched a day later on August 12, 1962.
2. Cosmonauts:
   • Vostok 3 carried cosmonaut Andrian Nikolayev.
   • Vostok 4 carried cosmonaut Pavel Popovich.
3. Objective:
   • The primary objective of the joint mission was to achieve the first orbital rendezvous of two manned spacecraft.
4. Mission Details:
   • Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 were in orbit simultaneously, and the two spacecraft came within approximately 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) of each other.
   • The mission allowed for communication between the two cosmonauts via radio.
5. Orbital Parameters:
   • Both spacecraft had slightly different orbital parameters to ensure that they would come close to each other during the mission.
6. Duration:
   • Vostok 3’s mission lasted about 94 hours and 22 minutes.
   • Vostok 4’s mission lasted about 70 hours and 45 minutes.
7. Return to Earth:
   • Both spacecraft safely returned to Earth. Vostok 3 landed on August 15, 1962, and Vostok 4 landed on August 15, 1962.
8. Legacy:
   • The Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 mission was a significant achievement in space exploration, demonstrating the possibility of coordinating activities and rendezvous in space with multiple spacecraft.

This joint mission was a precursor to future spaceflights involving multiple spacecraft and laid the groundwork for more complex orbital maneuvers and rendezvous operations in space exploration.