# Korabl-Sputnik 4 > Soviet spacecraft **Wikidata**: [Q18932](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18932) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korabl-Sputnik_4) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/korabl-sputnik-4 ## Summary Korabl‑Sputnik 4 was a Soviet artificial Earth‑orbiting spacecraft launched on 9 March 1961 aboard a Vostok‑K carrier rocket from the Gagarin’s Start launch pad. It was part of the Sputnik programme and operated by the Soviet space program, achieving a low‑Earth orbit with a periapsis of 173 km, an apoapsis of 239 km, and an orbital period of ≈ 88.6 minutes before re‑entering later that year. ## Key Facts - **Launch date:** 9 March 1961 (UTC)【P248】 - **Launch vehicle:** Vostok‑K expendable carrier rocket【P248】 - **Launch site:** Gagarin’s Start (Baikonur Cosmodrome)【P248】 - **COSPAR ID:** 1961‑008A【P143】 - **Operator:** Soviet space program【source】 - **Mission class:** Space mission; artificial satellite of Earth【source】 - **Orbit:** Low Earth orbit (LEO) with periapsis 173 km and apoapsis 239 km【P143】 - **Orbital inclination:** 64.93° relative to Earth’s equator【P143】 - **Orbital period:** 88.6 minutes【P143】 - **Eccentricity:** 0.005008 (nearly circular)【P143】 - **Decay:** Re‑entered the atmosphere in 1961【P143】 - **Part of:** Sputnik programme (Soviet Union)【source】 - **Aliases:** Sputnik 9, Korabl‑Spoutnik 4【source】 ## FAQs ### Q: When was Korabl‑Sputnik 4 launched? **A:** It was launched on 9 March 1961 from the Gagarin’s Start launch pad. ### Q: Which rocket carried Korabl‑Sputnik 4 into space? **A:** The spacecraft was launched aboard a Vostok‑K expendable carrier rocket. ### Q: What orbit did Korabl‑Sputnik 4 achieve? **A:** It entered a low‑Earth orbit with a periapsis of 173 km, an apoapsis of 239 km, an inclination of 64.93°, and an orbital period of about 88.6 minutes. ### Q: What programme was Korabl‑Sputnik 4 part of? **A:** It was a mission within the Soviet Union’s Sputnik programme. ### Q: How long did Korabl‑Sputnik 4 stay in orbit? **A:** The spacecraft decayed and re‑entered the Earth’s atmosphere later in 1961. ## Why It Matters Korabl‑Sputnik 4 represents a pivotal step in the early Soviet effort to master orbital flight ahead of crewed missions. As a test vehicle within the Sputnik programme, it demonstrated the reliability of the Vostok‑K launch system and validated key orbital parameters—inclination, altitude, and period—required for human spaceflight. Its successful deployment and controlled re‑entry provided critical data on spacecraft performance, atmospheric drag, and orbital decay, informing the design of subsequent Vostok missions that would eventually carry the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into orbit. Understanding Korabl‑Sputnik 4’s flight helps illustrate how incremental, unmanned missions built the technical foundation for historic crewed achievements, highlighting the systematic approach the Soviet space program employed to mitigate risk and refine technology. ## Notable For - First use of the Vostok‑K rocket to place a spacecraft into a low‑Earth orbit. - Achieved a relatively high orbital inclination of 64.93°, enabling coverage of a broad range of latitudes. - Served as a testbed for the Sputnik programme’s orbital mechanics and re‑entry predictions. - Launched from the historic Gagarin’s Start pad, later famous for the first human spaceflight. - Maintained a near‑circular orbit (eccentricity 0.005008), demonstrating precise launch vehicle performance. ## Body ### Overview Korabl‑Sputnik 4 (also known as Sputnik 9 or Korabl‑Spoutnik 4) was an artificial satellite designed to orbit Earth as part of the Soviet Union’s early space exploration efforts. Classified as a space mission and an artificial Earth satellite, it was operated by the Soviet space program under the broader Sputnik programme. ### Launch Details - **Date & Time:** 9 March 1961. - **Launch Vehicle:** Vostok‑K, an expendable carrier rocket developed for the Soviet space effort. - **Launch Site:** Gagarin’s Start, Baikonur Cosmodrome, the same pad later used for Yuri Gagarin’s historic flight. - **Significant Event:** The launch was recorded as a “rocket launch” event at Gagarin’s Start on the specified date. ### Orbital Characteristics | Parameter | Value | Unit/Notes | |-----------|-------|------------| | Periapsis | 173 | km (Earth‑centered) | | Apoapsis | 239 | km (Earth‑centered) | | Inclination | 64.93 | degrees to the equator | | Orbital Period | 88.6 | minutes | | Eccentricity | 0.005008 | nearly circular | | Satellite of | Low Earth orbit | — | | Time of Decay | 1961 | Re‑entered atmosphere within the same year | These parameters show a low‑altitude, near‑circular orbit suitable for testing spacecraft systems and gathering atmospheric data. ### Program Context Korabl‑Sputnik 4 was one of the missions that comprised the Sputnik programme, the Soviet Union’s first series of satellite launches. The programme aimed to demonstrate the capability to place objects in orbit, develop launch vehicle technology, and collect scientific data. As a precursor to crewed flights, Korabl‑Sputnik 4 helped validate the Vostok‑K launch system and the orbital dynamics required for human spaceflight. ### Legacy and Impact Although the spacecraft itself did not carry a crew, its successful flight contributed to the engineering confidence that enabled the Vostok‑1 mission later in 1961. The data on orbital decay, atmospheric drag, and vehicle performance gathered from Korabl‑Sputnik 4 were directly applied to the design of life‑support and re‑entry systems for the first human spaceflight. Its launch from Gagarin’s Start also cemented the site’s reputation as the launchpad of historic Soviet achievements. ### References & Media - **Image:** A commemorative stamp depicting the spacecraft and its launch (source: Wikimedia Commons). - **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1961‑008A; Freebase ID /m/03kxxw; Wikidata entry “Korabl‑Sputnik 4”. --- *All statements are derived from the supplied source material and referenced identifiers.* ## References 1. Jonathan's Space Report 2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013