August 11, 2023
On this date in 1962, the Soviet Union launched Vostok 3, with Cosmonaut Andriyan Nikolayev aboard, into Earth orbit. The next day, Vostok 4 was launched with Cosmonaut Pavel Popovich aboard. Although they had no maneuvering capability and therefore could not rendezvous or dock, the spacecraft did briefly see each other at a minimum distance of about 5 kilometers.
A 1960s Russian postcard celebrating astronauts Nikolaev (Vostok 3) and Popovich (Vostok 4). Image credit: unknown