Soyuz 4 spacecraft with docking mechanism, illustration. The Soyuz 4 spacecraft launched on 14 January 1969, on a mission to dock with Soyuz 5 and transfer crew between the two spacecraft. This was the first time these manoeuvres had had been accomplished in space. On-board Soyuz 4 was Cosmonaut Vladimir Schatalov. The spacecraft successfully docked on the 16 January and transferred two crew from Soyuz 5 to Soyuz 4. Soyuz 4 returned to Earth on the 17 January.