Soyuz 4 was launched on January 14, 1969, carrying cosmonaut Vladimir Shatalov on his first flight. The mission aimed to dock with Soyuz 5, which launched the following day, transfer two crew members from that spacecraft, and then return to Earth. Soyuz 5 was commanded by Boris Volynov and included flight engineers Aleksei Yeliseyev and Yevgeny Khrunov, who were set to be transferred to Soyuz 4 for reentry. The mission plan encompassed scientific, technical, and medical-biological research, as well as testing spacecraft systems and design elements, docking of crewed spacecraft, and the transfer of cosmonauts between vehicles in orbit.
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| A cover featuring Soyuz 4 and 5 stamp, produced by KNIGA, and postmarked on January 22, 1969. It is signed by Vladimir Shatalov, Boris Volynov, Aleksei Yeliseyev and Yevgeny Khrunov |
(Reference from
Soyuz 5)
