posted 04-26-2002 02:21 PM               

http://www1.icollector.com/catalogs/lot_details.cfm?itemID=222245&catalogID=1484

This black panel is from one of the six Vostok spacecraft produced in 1960-61 and is dated 1960 on an attached plate. All six of the Vostok spacecraft manufactured were flown. The fact that this panel is dated 1960 would lead one to believe that this flew on one of the earlier flights, but there is no way to determine that. This panel is identical to the panel in the Vostok spacecraft on display at the Space Museum in Moscow. The panel is covered in dials and switches and has numerous male/female cable plugs on the right side. Note the clear lucite cover over the control key "keyhole" at left. The early Soviet spacecrafts were all controlled from the ground and not by the cosmonauts. Remember John Glenn's famous comment that astronauts were not trained chimpanzees and, as test pilots, were used to having manual control of their plane/spacecraft? The astros fought to stay in control of their spacecrafts. The cosmonauts were just passengers along for the ride. They could only take control if there was an emergency. This is an extremely rare piece of equipment that, if it could ever be determined which spacecraft it was on, could tell great tales about the history that it helped make.

Vostok craft main control Panel: http://www1.icollector.com/catalogs/lot_details.cfm?itemID=222253&catalogID=1484

This panel, a companion panel to the panel in lot 1139, was used in training only. Visually it is quite interesting and appears to contain an Astronavigator in the center. It is only a mock-up but it is quite realistic. At the right are two sets of mock-up warning lights and there are openings at the bottom for gauges to be inserted. This is an important addition for any collection in that it shows just how primitive were the Soviet training systems of the early 1960s. While those of the American Program were not necessarily much better, it highlights how far both programs have advanced today.

To anyone interested I can e-mail a pictures of Vostok cockpit view that I took in Space Museum of Star City and Moscow City Space Museum. These pictures clearly show the same panels in the Vostok crafts.

Also you can see these panels on our Web page:
http://spaceadventure.boom.ru/VostokInterior.jpg
http://spaceadventure.boom.ru/photoalbum4.html