Vostok program and early Soviet human spaceflights (1956–1963)

1. Cosmonaut Training Center established near Moscow

   Jan 11, 1960Labels: Cosmonaut Training, Soviet Air

   • NASA History

2. First cosmonaut group secretly selected

   Feb 25, 1960Labels: Cosmonaut candidates, Soviet officials

   • NASA History

3. Korabl-Sputnik 1 launches first Vostok test craft

   May 15, 1960Labels: Korabl Sputnik, Vostok test

   • Korabl Sputnik 1
   • NASA History

4. Vanguard Six chosen for accelerated Vostok preparation

   May 30, 1960Labels: Vanguard Six, cosmonaut group

   • NASA History

5. Korabl-Sputnik 2 returns animals safely from orbit

   Aug 19, 1960Labels: Korabl Sputnik, Belka and

   • Korabl Sputnik 2
   • NASA History

6. Korabl-Sputnik 3 ends in fatal reentry test failure

   Dec 1, 1960Labels: Korabl Sputnik, reentry failure

   • Mission List

7. Top three candidates named for first Vostok flight

   Jan 18, 1961Labels: Yuri Gagarin, Top three

   • NASA History

8. Korabl-Sputnik 4 tests ejection and landing systems

   Mar 9, 1961Labels: Korabl Sputnik, ejection system

   • Korabl Sputnik 4
   • Mission List

9. Korabl-Sputnik 5 completes final pre-human Vostok test

   Mar 25, 1961Labels: Korabl Sputnik, Vostok 3KA

   • Mission List
   • NASA History

10. Vostok 1 launches Yuri Gagarin into orbit

    Apr 12, 1961Labels: Vostok 1, Yuri Gagarin

    • Britannica Vostok
    • Vostok 1

11. Vostok 2 extends human spaceflight to over a day

    Aug 6, 1961Labels: Vostok 2, Gherman Titov

    • Vostok 2
    • Britannica Vostok

12. Vostok 3 and 4 fly simultaneously with close approach

    Aug 11, 1962Labels: Vostok 3, Vostok 4

    • Vostok 3 4
    • Britannica Vostok

13. Vostok 5 sets endurance record as Vostok 6 follows

    Jun 14, 1963Labels: Vostok 5, Vostok 6

    • Vostok 5
    • Vostok 6
    • Britannica Vostok

14. Vostok 6 lands, closing the crewed Vostok series

    Jun 19, 1963Labels: Vostok 6, crewed Vostok

    • Britannica Vostok
    • Vostok 6