Vostok 4

Soviet spacecraft

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July 21, 2026

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Vostok 4 was a Soviet spacecraft launched on August 12, 1962, as part of the Vostok program. This program was notable for carrying the first human into space, Yury Gagarin, on Vostok 1 in 1961. Vostok 4, along with Vostok 3, were launched on the same day and orbited in sight of each other, marking a significant step in coordinated space missions. Vostok 3 set a duration record of 94 hours in space. The Vostok series concluded with missions involving the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova, on Vostok 6 in 1963. These missions demonstrated the Soviet Union's early advancements in human spaceflight.12

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Andriyan Nikolayev
When Vostok 4, piloted by Pavel R. Popovich, was launched a day later, there were, for the first time, two crewed craft in space simultaneously. The two made radio and visual contact, but there was no attempt at docking. Both landed on August 15.
Read More
When Vostok 4, piloted by Pavel R. Popovich, was launched a day later, there were, for the first time, two crewed craft in space simultaneously. The two made radio and visual contact, but there was no attempt at docking. Both landed on August 15.
Read More