| Date |
Time (UTC) |
Event |
| 1961 Mar 9 |
06:28 |
Korabl Sputnik 4 (3KA-1) launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Vostok rocket into 173 x 239 kilometre orbit at 64.9 degrees inclination - in order to continue tests of the Vostok systems, it carries a dummy cosmonaut, a dog: Chernushka, and other biological specimens |
| 1961 Mar 9 |
06:29 |
Approx time - Korabl Sputnik 4 retro-rocket fires |
| 1961 Mar 9 |
07:58 |
Approx time - Korabl Sputnik 4 ejector seat operates and the dummy cosmonaut continues a separate descent under a parachute |
| 1961 Mar 9 |
08:09 |
Korabl Sputnik 4 dummy cosmonaut lands - the spacecraft, with Chernushka inside, touches down nearby at about the same time |
| 1961 Mar 25 |
05:54 |
Korabl Sputnik 5 (3KA-2) launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Vostok rocket into 164 x 230 kilometre orbit at 64.9 degrees inclination - it carries a dummy cosmonaut, a dog: Zvezdochka and other biological specimens and is the final test flight prior to the launch of Vostok |
| 1961 Mar 25 |
06:59 |
Approx time - Korabl Sputnik 5 retro-rocket fires |
| 1961 Mar 25 |
07:29 |
Approx time - Korabl Sputnik 5 ejector seat operates and the dummy cosmonaut continues a separate descent under a parachute |
| 1961 Mar 25 |
07:40 |
Korabl Sputnik 5 dummy cosmonaut lands - the spacecraft, with Zvezdochka inside, touches down nearby at about the same time |
| 1961 Apr 12 |
06:07 |
World first piloted spaceship, Vostok (3KA-3), launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Vostok rocket into 169 x 315 kilometre orbit at 65.0 degrees inclination with cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin aboard |
| 1961 Apr 12 |
07:16 |
Vostok is aligned for retro-fire |
| 1961 Apr 12 |
07:26 |
Vostok retro-rocket fires |
| 1961 Apr 12 |
07:35 |
Vostok re-enters the atmosphere - Gagarin ride is rough as the instrument unit and the cabin remain joined by a cable until re-entry heating burns it through |
| 1961 Apr 12 |
07:55 |
Vostok ejector seat operates and Gagarin continues descent under a parachute |
| 1961 Apr 12 |
08:05 |
Gagarin lands - 26 kilometres south-west of Engels, Saratov Region - Vostok touches down nearby at about the same time |
| 1961 Aug 6 |
06:00 |
Vostok 2 (3KA-4) launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Vostok rocket into 166 x 232 kilometre orbit at 65.0 degrees inclination with cosmonaut Gherman Titov aboard |
| 1961 Aug 6 |
15:30 |
Titov begins rest period aboard Vostok 2 |
| 1961 Aug 6 |
23:37 |
Aboard Vostok 2, Titov is awakened at the end of his sleep period - 37 minutes later than planned |
| 1961 Aug 7 |
02:45 |
Aboard Vostok 2, Titov eats breakfast |
| 1961 Aug 7 |
06:41 |
Approx time - Vostok 2 retro-rocket fires |
| 1961 Aug 7 |
07:11 |
Vostok 2 ejector seat operates and Titov continues descent under a parachute |
| 1961 Aug 7 |
07:18 |
Titov lands 740 kilometres south-east of Moscow near Krasny Sut, Saratov region - Vostok 2 touches down nearby at about the same time |
| 1961 Dec 11 |
09:39 |
Zenit-2 (11Ф61 №);1 launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome by Vostok 8K72K rocket. Protoype recoverable photo-reconnaissance satellite based on original Korolyov Vostok/Zenit design - failed to orbit when upper stage cutoff prematurely and the spacecraft destruct system fired at T+407 seconds. |
