Vostok 5

Infobox Space mission
mission_name = Vostok 5
spacecraft_name =
shuttle =
insignia = vostok5-6patch.png insignia_size = 95px
sign = Ястреб (Yastreb - "Hawk")
crew_members = 1
launch_pad =
launch = June 14, 1963
11:58:58 UTC
Gagarin's Start
begin_spacewalk =
end_spacewalk =
landing = June 19, 1963
11:06 UTC
coord|53|24|N|68|37|E|
duration = 4d/23:07
orbits = 82
apogee = 131 km
perigee = 130 km
period = 87.1 minutes
altitude =
inclination = 64.9°
distance =
mass = 4720 kg
crew_photo = Valeri bykovsky.jpg
crew_caption =
previous =
next =
Like Vostoks 3 and 4, Vostok 5 and 6 were joint missions in the Soviet space program, and like the previous pair, came close to one another in orbit and established a radio link.

Cosmonaut Valery Bykovsky was originally intended to stay in orbit for eight days, but the mission details changed many times due to elevated levels of solar flare activity at the time and he was eventually ordered back after five days. However, this was then, and remains today, the record for solo manned flight in earth orbit.

A problem with the spacecraft's waste collection system is reported to have made conditions "unpleasant" in the capsule. The only other difficulty encountered was that, like on Vostoks 1 and 2, the re-entry module failed to separate cleanly from the service module when it was time for Bykovsky to come home.

The re-entry capsule is now on display at the Tsiolkovsky Museum in Kaluga.

Crew

Number in parentheses indicates number of spaceflights by each individual prior to and including this mission.
*Valery Bykovsky (1)

Backup crew

*Boris Volynov

Reserve crew

*Alexei Leonov