Soyuz 8

Launch, orbit & landing data: Designation  04126 / 69087A Launch date - time  13 Oct 1969 - 10:19:09 UT Launch site  Baikonur, LC31 Launch vehicle  Soyuz 11A511 OKB name - S/Nº  Soyuz 7K-OK s/n 16 (active) Basic shape  Sphere-cylinder + 2 wings Dimension (m)  7.5 long, 2.2 dia Mass (kg)  6647 kg Flight Crew  Shatalov, Vladimir A. (CDR) Yeliseyev, Alexei S. (FE) Call Sign  Granit (Granite) Backup crew  Nikolayev A., Sevastyanov V. Earth orbit on 16 Oct.0:    - Perigee / Apogee  201 x 227 km    - Eccentricity  0.002    - Inclination  51.65°    - Period  88.72 min Landing date - time  18 Oct 1969 - 09:09:58 UT Landing location  51°N, 72°E Flight Duration (d:hr:min)  04d 22h 50m 49'' (4.95 days) Nbr orbits

Flight Crew

Mission detrails:

• Launch from Baikonur; landing 150 km northwest of Karaganda; groupflight with Soyuz 6 and 7; failed to dock with target spacecraft Soyuz 7, only approaching.
  
  
  

  Soyuz capsules in assembly hall. - Credit: RKK Energia.

  
  
• Tested spacecraft systems and designs, manoeuvring of space craft with respect to each other in orbit, conducted scientific, technical and medico-biological experiments in group flight. Was to have docked with Soyuz 7 and transferred crew while Soyuz 6 took film from nearby. However failure of rendezvous electronics in all three craft due to a new helium pressurization integrity test prior to the mission did not permit successful rendezvous and dockings. Recovered October 18, 1969 10:19 GMT.
• Maneuver Summary:
  201km X 227km orbit to 208km X 212km orbit. Delta V: 6 m/s
  208km X 212km orbit to 204km X 235km orbit. Delta V: 7 m/s
  Total Delta V: 13 m/s.

Astrophilately covers:

Launch cancel Tartu.

Launch cancel Panevezio, Rendezvous flight Soyuz 6, 7 & 8.

FDC Moscou, signed by Shatalov & Yeliseyev.