Vostok 5

Launch, orbit & landing data: Designation  00591 / 63020A Launch date - time  14 Jun 1963 - 11:58:59 UT Launch site  Baikonur, LC1 Launch vehicle  Vostok-K (8K72K) Payload  Vostok 3KA nº 7 Size (m)  4.3 long - 2.4 dia Mass (kg)  4 720 kg Flight Crew  Bykovsky, Valery (CDR) Call Sign   Yastreb (Hawk ) Backup crew  Volynov, Boris  Leonov, Aleksey Earth orbit on Jun 14.8:    - Perigee / Apogee  162 x 209 km    - Eccentricity  0.004    - Inclination  64.97°    - Period  88.27 min Earth orbit on Jun 17.5:    - Perigee / Apogee  152 x 189 km    - Eccentricity  0.005    - Inclination  64.97°    - Period  88.00 min Landing date - time (spacecraft)   19 Jun 1963 - 10:56 UT Landing date - time (cosmonaut)   19 Jun 1963 - 11:06 UT Landing location  540 km northwest of Karaganda  53°24' N, 68°37' E Flight Duration (d:hr:min)  4:23:07 Nbr orbits  81 Distance (km)  3.326 million

Flight Crew

Mission details:

Bykovsky aboard Vostok 5

• Joint flight with Vostok 6. Further study of the effect of various space-flight factors in the human organism; extensive medico-biological experiments under conditions of prolonged flight; further elaboration and improvement of spaceship systems. Originally planned to go for a record eight days. Launch delayed repeatedly due to high solar activity and technical problems. Finally launched into lower than planned orbit, which combined with increased atmospheric activity due to solar levels, put spacecraft into a quick decaying orbit and raised temperatures in the service module to very high levels.
• Bykovsky also experienced (unspecified) problems with his waste management system (a spill?) which made conditions in the cabin 'very uncomfortable'. He was finally ordered to return after only five days in space.
• To top it all off, once again the Vostok service module failed to separate cleanly from the reentry sphere. Wild gyrations ensued until the heat of reentry burned through the non-separating retraining strap.

Astrophilately covers:

Special launch cancel Pensa.

Launch cancel Liepaja.

FDC cover Moscou, signed by Bykovsky & Tereshkova.

Vostok-5 & 6 flight cover. Cancel Stanislav