Soyuz 5

Crew:
    Upload:
        Boris Volynov [1], Commander
        Aleksei Yeliseyev [1], Flight Engineer
        Yevgeni Khrunov [1], Flight Engineer
    Download:
        Boris Volynov

Backup Crew:
    Anatoli Filipchenko
    Viktor Gorbatko
    Valeri Kubasov

Launch:
    Location: Baikonur, Site 1/5
    Date: 15 January 1969
    Time: 07:04:57 UTC

Landing:
    Date: 18 January 1969
    Time: 07:59:12 UTC

Docking:
    Soyuz 4, 16 January 1969 08:20 UTC - 16 January 1969 12:55 UTC

Duration: 3 days, 0 hours, 54 minutes, 15 seconds

Call Sign: Baikal

Soyuz 5 was the passive target for Soyuz 4 in the first  docking of manned space vessels.

Yeliseyev and Khrunov space walked to the Soyuz 4 for the return to Earth.

Volynov came back alone in Soyuz 5. During reentry, the service module failed to separate and the Soyuz came in nose first. Fortunately, the struts holding the service module in place melted through before the hatch did. The service module fell away and the Soyuz righted itself. The landing was not very gentle. Volynov broke several of his top front teeth, but lived to tell about it. He was far off course and the outside temperature was about -38° C, so he hiked several kilometers to the hut of some peasants who kept him warm until searchers found him several hours later.

Crew

 

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Page last modified: 20 June 2022 16:59:11.