Vostok 2 facts for kids
Model of the Vostok capsule with its upper stage
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| Operator | Soviet space program |
|---|---|
| Harvard designation | 1961 Tau 1 |
| Mission duration | 1 day, 1 hour, 18 minutes |
| Orbits completed | 17.5 |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | Vostok-3KA No.4 |
| Manufacturer | Experimental Design OKB-1 |
| Launch mass | 4,731 kilograms (10,430 lb) |
| Crew | |
| Crew size | 1 |
| Members | Gherman Titov |
| Callsign | Орёл (Oryol - "Eagle") |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | August 6, 1961, 06:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Vostok-K 8K72K |
| Launch site | Baikonur 1/5 |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | August 7, 1961, 07:18 UTC |
| Landing site | Krasny Kut 50°51′10″N 47°01′14″E / 50.85276°N 47.02048°E |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Low Earth |
| Eccentricity | 0.00501 |
| Perigee | 166 kilometres (103 mi) |
| Apogee | 232 kilometres (144 mi) |
| Inclination | 64.93 degrees |
| Period | 88.46 minutes |
| Epoch | 6 August 1961, 02:00:00 UTC |
 
Vostok programme
Manned flights |
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Vostok 2 (Russian: 'Восток-2, meaning East 2) was an important Soviet space mission. It carried a cosmonaut named Gherman Titov into orbit. The main goal was to study how a long time in weightlessness (floating without gravity) affected the human body. Titov orbited Earth more than 17 times. This was a big step after Yuri Gagarin's single orbit on Vostok 1.
Mission Highlights
The Vostok 2 flight was almost a complete success. However, there were a few small problems. A heater inside the spacecraft did not turn on, which made the temperature drop to about 10°C (50°F). Titov also experienced a period of "space sickness," which is similar to motion sickness but happens in space.
Re-entry and Landing
When it was time to come back to Earth, there was a small issue. The part of the spacecraft that re-entered the atmosphere did not separate perfectly from its service module. This caused a bit of a bumpy ride for Titov.
Titov took control of the spacecraft manually for a short time during the flight. The Soviet Union later shared that Titov did not land inside his capsule. Instead, he ejected from it to test a different landing system. We now know that all Vostok program landings were done this way.
Youngest Person in Space
As of 2012, Gherman Titov holds a special record. He is the youngest person ever to travel into space. He was only 25 years old when Vostok 2 launched.
See also
In Spanish: Vostok 2 para niños
