Sputnik 5
| Mission Statistics |
| Mission Name: | Sputnik 5 |
| Call Sign: | Korabl Sputnik 2 |
| Number of Crew Members: | 0 |
| Launch: | August 19, 1960
08:44:06 UTC
Baikonur LC1
|
| Landing: | August 20, 1960
|
| Duration: | 1 day |
| Number of Orbits: | ~16 |
| Korabl Sputnik 2 |
Crew
Mission Parameters
- Mass: 4,600 kg
- Perigee: 287 km
- Apogee: 324 km
- Inclination: 64.95°
- Period: 90.72 minutes
- NSSDC ID: 1960-011A
Mission Highlights
Sputnik 5 (also sometimes called Korabl-Sputnik 2) was the first satellite to return animals from orbit. It was launched on August 19 1960, and was in fact the second test flight of the Vostok spacecraft.
This spacecraft was the second in a series of spacecraft designed to further the development of an Earth orbiting system for the planned manned space program. The spacecraft carried two dogs, Belka and Strelka (Russian for "Squirrel", or more likely "Whitey" from Russian "belyj", which means "white", and "Little Arrow"), 40 mice, 2 rats and a variety of plants on-board. The spacecraft returned to earth the next day and all animals were recovered safely.
See also: Sputnik program