FLOWN VOSTOK PANEL, 1960

Black metal instrument panel, 18 by 11 by 3 inches, with numerous toggle switches, dials, and knobs, all labeled in Russian. One side with male/female pin sockets, opposite side with control keyhole, covered by protective lucite cover.  Top with small metal flight label, dated 1960, and reading "ИЗД N 5 / ПУ-1-ЗКА / 1960."

From 1960 to 1960 six Vostok spacecrafts were produced, all of them having flown. The present panel was taken from one of those six produced in 1960. It is interesting to note that the early Cosmonauts had very little control over their spacecraft, and indeed, it wasn't until the flight of Valentina Tereshkova on Vostok 6, that the pilot was actually allowed to control their spacecraft.