Brief
Soviet Union launches Voskhod 1, first multi‑person spaceflight, on Oct. 12 1964
The three‑person Voskhod 1 mission marked several firsts, including the first civilians in space and the first flight without suits.
By Felo News Desk · Published
On Oct. 12, 1964 the Soviet Union launched Voskhod 1, a 24‑hour mission that carried three cosmonauts into orbit, according to Space.com.
What happened
Voskhod 1 lifted off with commander Vladimir Komarov, engineer Konstantin Feoktistov and doctor Boris Yegorov aboard. The mission lasted just over 24 hours, during which the crew conducted micro‑gravity experiments on liquids and gases and photographed Earth. Because the spacecraft was modified to hold three people, no room remained for launch or landing suits, making it the first flight without spacesuits. The crew remained inside the capsule after re‑entry, unlike earlier Vostok flights where cosmonauts parachuted out.
What the reports add
Space.com notes that Soviet politicians pressured the program to add a third crew member, turning a planned two‑person flight into a three‑person one. The article also cites space historian Asif Siddiqi, who says Nikita Khrushchev ordered chief designer Sergei Korolev to convert the Vostok vehicle for three occupants. The piece highlights that two of the three were civilians – an engineer and a doctor – marking the first civilian spaceflight.
What was said
According to Space.com, Siddiqi reported that "Soviet leader [Nikita] Khrushchev contacted Korolev and ordered him to convert the Vostok spacecraft into a vehicle capable of carrying not two, but three cosmonauts."
How it came about
The launch followed the Soviet Union’s earlier milestones, including Sputnik 1 in 1957 and Yuri Gagarin’s solo flight in 1961. It also occurred while NASA was developing its two‑person Gemini program, prompting Soviet leadership to seek an edge in the space race.
Key facts
- Voskhod 1 launched on Oct. 12, 1964 with three cosmonauts. (space.com)
- The crew consisted of Vladimir Komarov, Konstantin Feoktistov and Boris Yegorov. (space.com)
- The mission lasted just over 24 hours and featured the first spaceflight without suits. (space.com)
- Two crew members were civilians, the first civilians in space. (space.com)
- Nikita Khrushchev ordered the conversion of the Vostok spacecraft for three occupants. (space.com)
Sources
- [1] space.com — originally reported as “On this day in space! Oct. 12, 1964: The Soviet Union launches Voskhod 1, the 1st multi-person cosmonaut crew, into space”
