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June 26, 1958
Letter, A. Bakulev et al. to Comrade N.S. Khrushchev
Proposal from biomedicine specialists addressed to Nikita Khrushchev to create a new scientific-research institution dedicated solely to study the biomedical aspects of space exploration. The authors ask that a unit from the Air Force’s existing Institute of Aviation Medicine be detached and made into a new institute for space medicine.
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September 16, 1958
Letter, Sergei Korolev to Comrade K.N. Rudnev
Proposal from Sergei Korolev submitted to the State Committee for Defense Technology to develop a spy satellite with a cosmonaut on board.
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December 02, 1958
Letter, M. Khrunichev et al to the CPSU CC
Proposal submitted to the Central Committee (CC) by a number of industry leaders, scientists, and military officials proposing to strengthen biomedical research to support a future human spaceflight.
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May 22, 1959
Decree of the CPSU Central Committee and USSR Council of Ministers on Vostok
Decree of the Central Committee and Council of Ministers officially titled “On the Object Vostok,” approving the development of the Vostok reconnaissance satellite.
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September 10, 1960
Proposal from D. Ustinov et al to the CPSU CC on Human Spaceflight
Formal proposal to Central Committee from a group of industrial leaders, military officials, scientists, and designers to carry out the first human spaceflight by December 1960.
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September 27, 1960
Top Secret Service and Character References for Core Group of Six Cosmonauts Training for the First Human Spaceflight
Brief service and political character references for the core group of six cosmonauts training for the first human spaceflight.
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October 11, 1960
Decree of the CPSU Central Committee and USSR Council of Ministers on the Object Vostok-3A
Decree issued by the Central Committee and the Council of Ministers entitled “On the Object Vostok-3A” approving the plan to carry out a human spaceflight in December 1960.
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November 10, 1960
Report from D. Ustinov et al on Preparations for Two Test Flights of the Vostok-A Prototype
Report from industrial leaders, scientists, and designers to the Central Committee on preparations for two test flights of the Vostok-A prototype before human space mission on Vostok-3A variant
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January 25, 1961
Report of the Results of the Examinations held with Cosmonaut Students of the Air Force’s Cosmonaut Training Center
Results of examinations held with the core group of cosmonaut trainees at the Cosmonaut Training Center.
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March 24, 1961
Report from D. Ustinov et al to the CPSU CC on Preparations to Launch the Vostok-3A
Report to Central Committee from industrial leaders, military leaders, scientists, and designers on preparations to launch a final automated test flight before actual piloted spaceflight.
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March 30, 1961
Report from D. Ustinov et al to the CPSU CC regarding the Preparation and Launch of a Manned Spacecraft
Memo from representatives of industry, the scientific community, the armed forces, the KGB, and the space designer community to the Central Committee report on final preparations for piloted spaceflight and asking for permission to launch a spaceship with a human on board.
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April 03, 1961
Excerpt from Ninutes Nº 322 of the CC Presidium of April 3, 1961, 'On the Launch of the Satellite-ship'
Final Presidium (or Politburo) decree, entitled “On the Launch of a Space Satellite-Ship,” approving the launch of a spaceship with a human on board.
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April 11, 1961
Transcribed Notes Dictated by Nikita Khrushchev while at Pitsunda on the Eve of Gagarin’s Flight
Transcribed notes dictated by Nikita Khrushchev while at Pitsunda on the eve of Gagarin’s flight, on April 11, 1961.
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April 13, 1961
Questions to Yu. A. Gagarin and Answers of Yu. A. Gagarin (During the State Commission Session of 13.04.1961)
Transcript of the State Commission’s interview with Yuriy Gagarin after his mission.
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April 13, 1961
Top Secret Report of Major Yuri Gagarin
Full Report of Yury Gagarin to the State Commission after his mission, on April 13, 1961.
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April 26, 1961
Excerpt from Minutes Nº 325 of the April 26, 1961, Meeting of the CPSU CC Presidium, 'On the Further Commemoration and Popularization of the First Flight of a Soviet Man in Space'
Presidium (or Politburo) decree on publicity for the flight of Yuriy Gagarin.
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May 03, 1961
Preliminary Report on the Results of the Launch of the Third Vostok-3a Satellite-Ship with Pilot Yu. A. Gagarin on Board (Accomplished On April 12, 1961)
Preliminary Report analyzing the results of the Vostok flight of Yuriy Gagarin, prepared by the design bureau in charge of the flight, OKB-1, based in Kaliningrad north of Moscow.
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July 05, 1961
Record of a Conversation between N. S. Khrushchev and Chen Yi, Deputy Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China
Chen asks Khrushchev to go over the pressing international issues and he presents the USSR's stances on the situation in Laos, South Korea, and Cuba. Khrushchev also raises problems in GDR and difficulties in negotiations with Western powers with regards to the German question. Khrushchev also mentions Soviet plans to launch a spaceship and resume nuclear testing. The two leaders also discuss the challenges of agricultural development.