Commander Vladimir Shatalov and Flight Engineer Aleksei Yeliseyev blasted off in Soyuz 8, October 13, 1969, with all intent to dock with Soyuz 7, which launched the previous day. Soyuz 6 took off just two days before. It was the first time seven cosmonauts were in orbit at the same time.
The “official” plan was to dock
with Soyuz 7 and transfer one cosmonaut via EVA while Soyuz 6 filmed the whole
operation. However, due to mechanical
failures, the docking procedure never happened.
In all, three attempts were made but none were successful. Therefore, the Soviets stated they never really meant to dock.
Shatalov and Yeliseyev
returned to Earth on schedule October 18.
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