The First Group Spaceflight

Obverse

a relief image of the National Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation and a semicircular inscription above it along the rim: ‘РОССИЙСКАЯ ФЕДЕРАЦИЯ’ (RUSSIAN FEDERATION) framed with paired diamonds on both sides, under the coat of arms there are the chemical symbol of the metal and fineness on the left and fine metal content and the mint trade mark on the right, at the bottom in the centre, in three lines, there is an inscription: ‘БАНК РОССИИ’ (BANK OF RUSSIA), the coin denomination: ‘3 РУБЛЯ’ (3 RUBLES), and the year of issue: ‘2022 г.’ (2022).

Reverse

relief images of spacecraft against the background of images of the Earth, the rising Sun and stars, laser-treated for matte finishing; and the relief inscription ‘ПЕРВЫЙ ГРУППОВОЙ КОСМИЧЕСКИЙ ПОЛЕТ • ВОСТОК 3 ВОСТОК 4 11.08.1962–15.08.1962’ (THE FIRST GROUP SPACEFLIGHT • VOSTOK 3 VOSTOK 4 11.08.1962–15.08.1962) along the rim.

Authors

Designers: E.V. Kramskaya (obverse), F.S. Andronov (reverse).
Sculptors: A.A. Dolgopolova (obverse), F.S. Andronov (reverse).
Mint: Saint Petersburg Mint (СПМД).
Edge: 300 corrugations.

Discover more

In 1962, the USSR announced the world’s first experiment with a group flight of two spacecraft – Vostok 3 and Vostok 4. The first manned spacecraft Vostok 3 was launched into orbit on 11 August 1962 and Vostok 4 – on 12 August 1962. Both spacecraft started from the same launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The launch of the two rocket and space complexes from the same platform within two days became possible owing to the scrupulous and well-coordinated work of all divisions of the Cosmodrome. As a result of the highly accurate insertion of both spacecraft into orbit, the parameters of their orbits almost coincided.

The cosmonauts carried out biomedical experiments and research and technology experiments. This was the world’s first flight when a cosmonaut left the ejection seat and floated unsuited in weightlessness.

Vostok 3 made 64 circles around the Earth and set a new flight duration record, namely 3 days, 22 hours and 22 minutes. Vostok 4 made 48 circles around the Earth and remained in orbit for 2 days, 22 hours and 44 minutes. Both spacecraft landed on 15 August in the Karaganda Region.

Source: https://www.roscosmos.ru