First launch of a Korabl Sputnik in preparation for piloted spaceflight, recovery of the cabin was not intended so it carried no heat shielding. 1960 May 19, 23:52 UTC, retrofire occurred. The guidance system had oriented the spacecraft 180 degrees away from the required attitude so the spacecraft ascended to a higher orbit (as listed below). Otherwise the flight went as expected. The original orbit was reported to have been approx 320 x 360 km. After the retro-rocket firing, the cabin separated and became catalogued as 1960 ε 3, NORAD 36. Catalogued by NORAD with alternate name Sputnik 4.

Note - First satellite to be tracked by the Kettering Grammar School Satellite Tracking Group.

First launch of Vostok prototype. The launch vehicle exploded, destroying the spacecraft and killing two dogs - Chaika and Lisichka.

Carried the dogs Strelka and Belka, plus grey rabbit, rats, mice, flies, plants, fungi, microscopic water plants, and seeds. Returned telemetry and TV images showing the dogs' physical condition. Strelka and Belka became the first living creatures to orbit the Earth and return safely. Catalogued by NORAD with alternate name Sputnik 5.

Carried the dogs Pchelka and Mushka plus other animals, insects, and plants. Retro-fire was 1960 Dec 2, 07:15 UTC. The spacecraft was burned up in the lower atmosphere after the retro-rocket failed to shut down and caused the re-entry angle to be too steep. Catalogued by NORAD with alternate name Sputnik 6.

Spacecraft separated while the launch vehicle third stage was still firing, and the cabin landed in Siberia. The animal container's ejector mechanism failed to fire but two dogs, Kometa and Shutka, survived a hard landing.

Carried a dog - Chernushka, and the instrumented mannequin 'Ivan Ivanovich' plus other biological specimens. The mannequin was ejected from the capsule and landed by parachute. Chernushka landed inside the cabin.

Carried a dog - Zvezdochka, and the instrumented mannequin 'Ivan Ivanovich' on it's second flight. The mannequin was ejected from the capsule and landed by parachute. Zvezdochka landed inside the cabin.

First piloted spaceflight for a single orbit of the Earth - carried Yuri Gagarin. Retro fire came 1961 Apr 12, 07:25 UTC. After re-entry, Gagarin was ejected from the cabin and landed under a separate parchute. The cabin used its own parachute system.

Second piloted orbital mission of the Vostok - carried Gherman Titov on a one day flight.

After a delay caused by the Zenit launch failure 1962 Jun 1, a piloted mission carrying Andrian Nikolayev. The spacecraft ftew in tandem with Vostok 4. After re-entry, Nikolayev was ejected from the cabin and came down under his own parachute. The cabin used a separate parachute system. Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 landed in the same area, six minutes apart.

Piloted mission carrying Pavel Popovich. The launch trajectory put Vostok 4 less than 6 km from Vostok 3. After re-entry, Popovich was ejected from the cabin and came down under his own parachute. The cabin used a separate parachute system. Vostok 3 and Vostok 4 landed in the same area, six minutes apart.

Piloted spacecraft carrying Valery Bykovsky. Vostok 5 flew in tandem with Vostok 6. After re-entry, Bykovsky was ejected from the cabin and came down under his own parachute. The cabin used a separate parachute system. Vostok 5 landed one orbital revolution later than Vostok 6.

Piloted spacecraft carrying Valentina Tereshkova. Vostok 6 reportedly came within 5 km of Vostok 5. After re-entry, Tereshkova was ejected from the cabin and came down under her own parachute. The cabin used a separate parachute system. Vostok 6 landed one orbital revolution before Vostok 5.