Vostok 5
Launch Date
June 14, 1963
Craft
Vostok
Status
Past
Crew
1
Vostok 5
Launch Date
June 14, 1963
Craft
Vostok
Status
Past
Crew
1
Overview
Vostok 5 was a joint mission with Vostok 6. During launch the upper stage of the rocket malfunctioned and placed Vostok 5 into a slightly lower but safe orbit. Lasting nearly 5 days, this mission stands to this day as the record for the longest solo human spaceflight. The flight was supposed to last 8 days, but an expansion of Earth's atmosphere from solar flare activity caused the orbit to decay quicker than previous missions and the flight was ended early.
Crafts
Vostok
Vostok was the first spacecraft capable of carrying humans into space. Officially known as Vostok 3KA, the single-person vehicle did not have landing equipment and all Soviets who flew on it had to eject at 7 km and parachute to the ground. The program completed six human flights and proved that people could live in space for several days.
