Universal History Annotation << Back How It Was. The History of the Development of the Vostok Space Program (Based on the Memories of Veterans of the Russian Space Program) Latanov V.M., Shabelnik N.V. This article is devoted to the history of Russian cosmonautics from 1954 to 1960. The authors examine several aspects of the preparation and implementation of the Vostok space program and the development and design of the Vostok spacecraft. The authors pay particular attention to the role of General Designer S.P. Korolev in the implementation of the Vostok space program. The article is based on the recollections of veterans of Russian cosmonautics, participants, and witnesses of the events that took place at the NIIP-5 MO rocket range (now the Baikonur Cosmodrome). The article is timed to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the spacefl ight of the first cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin. Keywords: Vostok space program, satellite ship, intercontinental ballistic missile, artificial Earth satellite, design, development, memories, veterans of Russian cosmonautics, S.P. Korolev. DOI: 10.25791/vseist.01.2026.1241 Pp. 26-37.