Soyuz 4 was launched on January 14, 1969, carrying cosmonaut Vladimir Shatalov on his first flight. The aim of the mission was to dock with Soyuz 5 (which was launched a day later), transfer two crew members from that spacecraft, and return to Earth. Soyuz 5 was piloted by commander Boris Volynov and carried flight engineers Aleksei Yeliseyev and Yevgeny Khrunov as the crew to be transferred to Soyuz 4 for reentry. The mission plan contained scientific, technical, and medical-biological research, testing of spacecraft systems and design elements, docking of piloted spacecraft, and transfer of cosmonauts from one craft to another in orbit.
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| Soyuz 4 and 5 KNIGA cover signed by the crew. The stamps were issued and cancelled on January 22, 1969. |
(Reference from
Soyuz 5)
