Soyuz 2 launched 1968

Soyuz 2, launched October 25, 1968, was an unmanned flight intended to dock with Soyuz 3, performing the first docking maneuver between Soviet space craft.  Unfortunately, the maneuver failed to dock with Soyuz 3 manned by Georgy Beregovoy.

Georgy Beregovoy, Soyuz 3 cosmonaut, born 1921

Cosmonaut Georgy Beregovoy, born April 15, 1921, went into space only once on Soyuz 3.  It was a one-man mission launched in October 1968 and he orbited Earth for almost four days. 

He had been scheduled to fly Voskhod 3 in 1966 but the mission never happened. 

In October 1969, Beregovoy and fellow cosmonaut Konstatin Feokistov visited Disneyland as guests of NASA, joined by Eugene Cernan, Neil Armstrong and others.

He passed away in June 1995 during heart surgery.

Soyuz 3 launches 1968

Cosmonaut Georgy Beregovoy blasted off in Soyuz 3, October 26, 1968 to rendezvous with Soyuz 2, an unmanned craft which was launched the previous day.  Beregovoy tried to dock with Soyuz 2 twice but failed on both attempts.  He came within 660ft to his target.

The mission was considered a success though since he was able to rendezvous with another craft.  At least, that's what the Soviets said.

At the time, Beregovoy was the oldest man to go into space, at the ripe old age of 47.