Status
Success
Korabl-Sputnik 1
Launch Time
Sun May 15, 1960 00:00 UTC
Sun May 15, 1960 00:00 UTC
First test flight of the Vostok program. First flight of a space capsule in history.
Rocket
Mission Details
Korabl-Sputnik 1
Also known as Sputnik 4, this was the first test flight of the Vostok spacecraft. It was packed with instruments, a television system, and a life support system with a dummy of a man. It radioed back extensive telemetry. When attempting to deorbit, however, a bug in the guidance system caused it to be pointing backwards, so it raised its orbit instead. Its orbit finally decayed over 2 years later.
Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 4,725.0 kg
Low Earth Orbit
Location
Site 1/5, Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Stats
1960
12th orbital launch attempt
Vostok
10th mission
3rd mission of 1960
3rd successful mission
1st consecutive successful mission