There were also payloads onboard for micro-biological, genetic, immunology and other life-science experiments.Ĭontinuing the scientific program of the first experimental satellites, Vostok also carried a 'space weather' experiment developed by a team of physicists led by Sergei Vernov. The experiment probably meant to test the influence of space radiation on the reproductive properties of corn and other grains. The latter were apparently intended to please the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, who, during his recent trip to the US, famously bought into the idea of the miraculous properties of corn and its ability to revolutionize the lagging Soviet agriculture. In addition to live animals, the GKZh container also carried a large botanical set with various plants, fungi and several kinds of cereals, including corn seeds. The two dogs and a multitude of biological objects, including a pair of white rats, 40 black and white mice and insects were placed in separate compartments inside a pressurized container, GKZh-2, which was integrated with the ejection seat and fitted inside Vostok's Descent Module. The fresh vehicle was almost identical to its lost predecessor in configuration and payload.

Planned: 2-3 days Actual: 1 day 2 hours 23 minutes (17-18 orbits)Īfter the July 28, 1960, launch accident that took the lives of two dogs and destroyed a test version of the Vostok spacecraft, the launch campaign resumed almost immediately at the Tyuratam test range to prepare another Vostok prototype for flight, despite a severe heat wave in Kazakhstan. 2) mission at a glance: Spacecraft designation

Russian space pioneer