Vostok 2

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

06:00:00

Sunday August 6, 1961

Mission Details

Launch Notes

Second crewed spaceflight in history.

Vostok 2

Wiki

There was considerable debate prior to this launch as to whether the mission should exceed 3-6 orbits, and due to recovery logistics if it was more it had to be a full 24 hours. Ultimately they went for a 24-hour mission. Gherman Titov was the pilot on this mission. At first he experienced some nausea and vomited upon eating his first meal, which was the first instance of what is now known as space adaptation syndrome. Titov took pictures and videos from orbit, the first time this had been done manually from orbit. He landed the next day by ejecting from his capsule and parachuting, just like Gagarin.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

4,731 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Vostok

Active 1958 to 1964

OKB-1 logo

Manufacturer

OKB-1

Rocket

Height: 38.36m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 4,730 kg

GTO: 0 kg

Liftoff Thrust

4,570 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 2.58m

Height: 6.74m

Stages

3

Strap-ons

4

Launch Site

Site 1/5

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Fastest Turnaround

23 hr 32 min

Stats

Vostok


18th

Mission

4th

Mission of 1961

OKB-1


26th

Mission

6th

Mission of 1961

1961


27th

Orbital launch attempt