# Korabl-Sputnik 5

> Soviet spacecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q18934](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18934)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korabl-Sputnik_5)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/korabl-sputnik-5

## Summary
Korabl-Sputnik 5 was a Soviet spacecraft launched on March 25, 1961, as part of the Sputnik programme. It served as a critical test vehicle in low Earth orbit, functioning as a precursor to the first human spaceflight.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** March 25, 1961
- **Launch Vehicle:** Vostok-K expendable carrier rocket
- **Mass:** 4,680 kilograms
- **Orbit Type:** Low Earth orbit (LEO)
- **Orbital Period:** 88.42 minutes
- **Apoapsis:** 230 kilometers
- **Periapsis:** 164 kilometers
- **Operator:** Soviet space program and the Academy of Sciences of the USSR
- **Launch Site:** Gagarin's Start
- **COSPAR ID:** 1961-009A

## FAQs
### Q: What is the relationship between Korabl-Sputnik 5 and Sputnik 10?
A: Korabl-Sputnik 5 is the same entity as Sputnik 10. It is also known by the aliases Sputnik X and Korabl-Spoutnik 5.

### Q: What was the primary launch vehicle for this mission?
A: The spacecraft was launched using a Vostok-K, which is a type of expendable carrier rocket developed by the Soviet Union.

### Q: Did Korabl-Sputnik 5 carry any passengers?
A: While primarily a test of the spacecraft systems, the mission is associated with the dog Zvezdochka, who was featured on commemorative stamps regarding the flight.

### Q: How long did the spacecraft stay in orbit?
A: The spacecraft was launched in March 1961, and its orbital decay occurred later within the same year.

## Why It Matters
Korabl-Sputnik 5 was a foundational mission for the Soviet space program, representing one of the final steps in the Sputnik programme before the transition to manned missions. By successfully placing a 4,680 kg craft into low Earth orbit and achieving a stable orbital inclination of 64.9 degrees, the Soviet Union demonstrated the reliability of the Vostok-K carrier rocket and the spacecraft's life-support capabilities. This mission provided the necessary technical validation for orbital mechanics, including precise periapsis and apoapsis management, which was essential for the safety of future cosmonauts. Its success directly paved the way for the historic human spaceflight that followed shortly after its launch.

## Notable For
- **Final Precursor Flight:** Served as a key test flight for the Vostok spacecraft design prior to human occupancy.
- **Biological Testing:** Carried the dog Zvezdochka to verify the survivability of the flight profile.
- **Historic Launch Site:** Launched from "Gagarin's Start," the same pad used for major milestones in Soviet space exploration.
- **High Mass Capacity:** Demonstrated the ability to launch a heavy payload of nearly 4.7 tonnes into a stable orbit.

## Body

### Mission Profile and Launch
Korabl-Sputnik 5 was launched on March 25, 1961. The mission was part of the Sputnik programme and was managed by the Soviet space program in conjunction with the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. The spacecraft was designated with the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 00095 and COSPAR ID 1961-009A. The launch took place at Gagarin's Start, utilizing the Vostok-K expendable carrier rocket.

### Orbital Characteristics
The spacecraft entered a low Earth orbit with the following specific parameters:
- **Apoapsis:** 230 km
- **Periapsis:** 164 km
- **Orbital Inclination:** 64.9°
- **Orbital Period:** 88.42 minutes
- **Eccentricity:** 0.005015

### Technical Specifications
The vehicle had a total mass of 4,680 kg. It was classified both as a general spacecraft and specifically as an artificial satellite of the Earth. The mission's primary objective involved testing the systems of the Vostok-class vehicle. Following the completion of its mission objectives, the spacecraft's orbit decayed in 1961.

### Nomenclature and Identification
The spacecraft is recognized under several different names across various languages and tracking systems:
- **Official Soviet Name:** Korabl-Sputnik 5
- **Western Designations:** Sputnik 10, Sputnik X
- **International IDs:** Freebase ID /m/03kx_f; COSPAR 1961-009A
- **Japanese Name:** スプートニク10号

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Enciclopedia universal ilustrada europeo-americana
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013