Voskhod programme

The Voskhod programme (??????, translated as "Sunrise") was a Soviet human spaceflight project. It was a development of and a follow-on to the Vostok programme using the Voskhod spacecraft and rocket.

Related Topics:
Soviet - Human spaceflight - Vostok programme - Voskhod spacecraft - Rocket

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Achieving the first EVA ("spacewalk") was the main purpose of the programme, but beating the US Gemini program to put the first multi-person crew in orbit also became an important objective. Both were realised and the programme was then abandoned due to the EVA problems on Voskhod 2 and the need to concentrate on the Soyuz programme.

Related Topics:
EVA - US - Gemini program - Voskhod 2 - Soyuz programme

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The Voskhod spacecraft was basically a Vostok spacecraft that had a backup, solid fuel retro rocket added to the top of the descent module. The heavier weight of the craft was made possible by improvements to the R-7 derived booster. The ejection seat was removed and two or three crew couches were added to the interior at a 90 degree angle to that of the Vostok crew position. However the position of the in flight controls were not changed so the crew had to crane their heads 90 degrees to see the instruments. In the case of Voskhod 2, an inflatable exterior airlock was also added to the descent module opposite the entry hatch. After use, the airlock was jettisoned. There was no provision for crew escape in the event of a launch or landing emergency. A solid fuel braking rocket was also added to the parachute lines to provide for a softer landing at touchdown. This was necessary because, unlike the Vostok, the crew lands with the Voskhod descent module.

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The Voskhod flights, with their dates of launch, were:

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• Cosmos 47 Unmanned test flight of the Voskhod hardware.
• Voskhod 1 - October 12, 1964. First space flight with more than one person on board.
• Cosmos 57 Unmanned test flight, unsuccessful.
• Voskhod 2 - March 18, 1965. First EVA ("spacewalk").
• Cosmos 110 Unmanned, sent two dogs, Veterok and Ugolyok, on 22-day flight.

Planned but cancelled flights were

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• Voskhod 3 19 day mission to study long term weighlessness
• Voskhod 4 20 day mission to study long term weighlessness
• Voskhod 5 10 day all female crew
• Voskhod 6 flight to test new EVA jet belt

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Voskhod programme: Vostok, Voskhod 1, Voskhod 2 crew seating ►