The evolution of oxygen molecule vibrational temperature behind the front of a shock wave was studied at shock wave velocities 3 4.5 km/s and gas pressure ahead of the shock front 1 5 Torr. The results of vibrational temperature measurement con¦rmed the conception of separation of vibrational relaxation and dissociation zones behind the shock wave front at T ≤ 6500 K. It is observed that at T = 6500 10 500 K the vibrational temperature decreased in comparison with its value characterized by the achievement of vibrational translational equilibrium before the dissociation started. It is shown that the model should to be modi¦ed to describe the evolution of the oxygen vibrational temperature under the conditions of vibrational relaxation and dissociation coupling.