During spacewalks, astronauts work in zero-gravity conditions. Of course, they need to be prepared for this first. But how can this be done on Earth with its gravity?
You can, of course, load them onto a plane and ask the pilot to make a “Kepler parabola.” This is when the plane climbs to a height of 6 thousand meters, then takes off sharply at an angle of 45 at 9 thousand and just as sharply falls down. But this, firstly, is expensive, secondly, not every pilot is capable of such a maneuver, and thirdly, weightlessness lasts from 22 to 28 seconds. Because of this, the technique is used only on initial stages as an introduction, writes Alena Lelikova.
You can also use a centrifuge - at the moment of a sharp change in trajectory, you can also achieve zero gravity. But also not for long. And it costs almost more than an airplane.
Oddly enough, it turned out that you don’t need to climb high to solve the problem. Conditions as close as possible to weightlessness are ideally imitated by ordinary water. Therefore, in 1980, at the Cosmonaut Training Center. Yu.A. Gagarin, a hydro laboratory was built. Over the 30 years of its existence, astronauts spent over 65,000 hours of training here, and those who subsequently visited real space agreed: the identity of sensations is at least 95%.
A hydraulic laboratory is a complex hydraulic structure with a whole complex of technological equipment, special systems, equipment and mechanisms. The main part of the hydrolab building is occupied by a huge tank: 23 meters in diameter, about 12 meters deep. Five thousand tons of water, unique in its composition, with a temperature of about 30 degrees.
A movable platform with a lifting capacity of 40 tons is installed inside the pool. Dimensional models of the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS), the Soyuz TMA spacecraft and other equipment located on the station are attached to it.
During dives, astronauts use so-called ventilation mock-ups of spacesuits, the only difference from real ones is the connection to an external air source. Accordingly, the life support system backpack was replaced with a dimensional mock-up. Since working underwater is associated with a certain danger, astronauts in spacesuits are accompanied by scuba divers in light diving equipment.
Immersion underwater creates conditions very similar to the state of weightlessness. There is even a special term - “hydraulic weightlessness”. Under the conditions of this hydro-weightlessness, future cosmonauts learn to work in outer space and study the external structure of the ISS modules. Various equipment is also tested here.
02. Additional similarity to airless space is provided by the special properties of water. There is no water with such a low density anywhere else; in fact, it is distilled. In addition, powerful spotlights are located outside the pool on the technical floors in a special way, the illumination of which also adds to the feeling of the complete absence of any substance around. One word - space. 
03. Along the perimeter of the walls there are 45 portholes through which film photography and visual observations of the activities of astronauts during training can be carried out. The “exposition” in the hydrolab is not permanent: exactly those modules that are currently being used for training are immersed in the pool. A special mechanism lifts the platform from the bottom to the surface, the used one is removed and another one is placed. The identity of the iron is one hundred percent. To every nut, to every hook and to every millimeter 
04. The platform on which the briefing takes place is like the main part of the ISS. And from it there are already various branches - modules 
05. On the left is a multifunctional laboratory module, MLM. Designed for scientific experiments. I haven’t been in space yet; I’ll fly for the first time in September together with Elena Serova, the first Russian female cosmonaut in the last 15 years. On the right (in the top photo it is in the lower left corner) is the MIM-1 module, also known as the “small research module” 
06. Recently, cosmonaut Oleg Kotov wrote in his blog that a new MLM module is already waiting for the ISS 
07. In front of the MIM there is an airlock chamber. The task of transferring it from MIM to MLM is currently being worked out. Its purpose is scientific experiments in outer space without human access. It works on the principle of a torpedo tube: equipment is installed on a special platform from the side of the ship, the locking process occurs, the hatch opens and the platform moves out 
08. By the way, that yellow crane on the opposite side is by no means for loading and unloading modules. They use it to hook the cosmonaut himself, this is what it looks like (photo from the press service of the Cosmonaut Center) 
09. The ISS itself, by the way, currently looks like this. According to the Center instructor, diving specialist of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, senior diver instructor of the Russian Navy, honored tester of space technology and fighter pilot with 13 years of experience, Valery Nesmeyanov, it is quite possible in the future spacecraft will be collected directly in orbit, “so as not to remove such a monstrous mass from Earth every time” 
10. In the center is part of the “SM” module - the service module. This is the main module where the astronauts live. This is where their cabins are located, and where they spend most of their time. This is specifically the part where they worked out the experiments that were literally carried out in outer space on June 19 
11. The layouts are hollow inside. Only the outer surface is needed for training 
12. Yellow handrails (they are clearly visible in the previous pictures) are the so-called transition routes. It is along them that the astronauts move around the outer part of the station, insuring themselves with two carbines. During training in light diving equipment there is such an exercise - they take off their fins and crawl along these handrails. Obviously, you don't have to be an astronaut to do something like this. 
13. Absolutely everyone has a chance to see exactly what an astronaut sees during an exit. 
14. However, the main part of the training still takes place in spacesuits. It’s called “Orlan-MK-GN” and working in it is very, very, very difficult. For example, one compression of a glove is a force of 16 kg. How many of these compressions do you need to do while moving along the handrails? Plus you still have to work, turn the nuts and all that...
“It is believed that this was dangerous during Gagarin’s time. No, guys, space is dangerous even now. In December they said in the news that a new record for the duration of a spacewalk had been set, 8 hours, hurray. And not a word that it was planned for 6 o’clock!”
In principle, our cosmonauts have long been approaching the 8-hour work limit, but under normal conditions. The correct distribution of forces is very important here - the most difficult thing at the beginning, the rest for later. Plus psychological readiness, because from a physiological point of view, 3 hours of work in a spacesuit is the limit.
“I work a lot in a spacesuit, and after 3 hours it’s not just hard, it’s already painful. He's made of iron! And after six, I just moved it by force of will: I just think that now I need to squeeze my hand and force the muscles to do it. Physical training will not help here - you will die after 3 hours, you will only have to be carried away in this spacesuit. Only willpower, only the attitude that you will have to overcome the pain.", says Valery
And that time, just after 6 hours of work, a failure simply occurred. It was at that moment when it was time to return. This is how a “new record” turned out - the guys were simply saving the station. 
14. In the hall the school broadcasts a picture from the ISS. Specifically at this moment - the American compartment 
15. In 2010, the hydrolab turned 30 years old. Not without pleasure, I found the name of my course director in the list of achievements 
16. By the way, in December the hydrolab is closed for serious repairs, so if you have a desire to go into outer space, it is advisable to implement it as soon as possible 
20. And the crew of our ship says goodbye to you, finally quoting our wonderful guide once again:
“When we sit here behind this barbed wire, all in our production problems, to be honest, we think that our space industry is of no interest to anyone. But looking at your eyes, I think that apple trees will bloom on Mars. And you will bring us an apple". 
Alexey Leonov was the first earthling to go into outer space on March 18, 1965, during the flight of Voskhod-2.
After exiting, due to his bloated spacesuit, Leonov could not squeeze into the ship’s airlock. He managed to do this with great difficulty.
Today, specially designed semi-rigid Russian and American spacesuits are used to exit the International Space Station. The Orlan-MK, which is a miniature spacecraft, is considered the most advanced. The astronaut does not put it on, but enters through a hole in the back. It is closed, like a hatch, by a backpack with an autonomous life support system.
Preparations in orbit for spacewalks begin several days in advance. Spacesuits, instruments, instruments - everything must work flawlessly.
You can’t just take it, put on a spacesuit and go into space. For several hours before leaving, astronauts breathe pure oxygen to flush out nitrogen from the blood. Otherwise, with a rapid pressure drop, the blood will “boil” and the astronaut will die.
Having gone into outer space, the astronaut turns into the same artificial satellite of the Earth as a spaceship moving at a speed of 28 thousand km/h. He must be extremely attentive and careful.
The astronaut moves along the outer surface of the ship or station, constantly attaching himself to it using halyards with carbines. The slightest mistake - and he will fly away from his home, without a single chance of returning. (American EMU spacesuits have such a chance - a small SAFER rocket launcher.)
Unlike moving inside the station, in outer space the astronaut’s legs are “extra.” But the entire load goes to the astronaut’s hands. This is what the replacement gloves of a spacesuit turn into after a spacewalk.
Work outside is usually carried out by two astronauts/astronauts. The Ground Control Center is closely monitoring their actions. As soon as the slightest suspicion arises that the suit is malfunctioning, the exit is immediately stopped and the astronauts urgently return back.
Only in outer space does the Earth appear in all its splendor. In rare moments of respite, astronauts admire their home planet and take photographs of it with pleasure.
There are only about 20 people who gave their lives for the benefit of world progress in the field of space exploration, and today we will tell you about them.
Their names are immortalized in the ashes of cosmic chronos, burned into the atmospheric memory of the universe forever, many of us would dream of remaining heroes for humanity, however, few would want to accept such a death as our cosmonaut heroes.
The 20th century was a breakthrough in mastering the path to the vastness of the Universe; in the second half of the 20th century, after much preparation, man was finally able to fly into space. However, there was also back side such rapid progress - death of astronauts.
People died during pre-flight preparations, during the takeoff of the spacecraft, and during landing. Total during space launches, preparations for flights, including cosmonauts and technical personnel who died in the atmosphere More than 350 people died, about 170 astronauts alone.
Let us list the names of the cosmonauts who died during the operation of spacecraft (the USSR and the whole world, in particular America), and then we will briefly tell the story of their death.
Not a single cosmonaut died directly in Space; most of them all died in the Earth’s atmosphere, during the destruction or fire of the ship (the Apollo 1 astronauts died while preparing for the first manned flight).
Volkov, Vladislav Nikolaevich (“Soyuz-11”)
Dobrovolsky, Georgy Timofeevich (“Soyuz-11”)
Komarov, Vladimir Mikhailovich (“Soyuz-1”)
Patsaev, Viktor Ivanovich (“Soyuz-11”)
Anderson, Michael Phillip ("Columbia")
Brown, David McDowell (Columbia)
Grissom, Virgil Ivan (Apollo 1)
Jarvis, Gregory Bruce (Challenger)
Clark, Laurel Blair Salton ("Columbia")
McCool, William Cameron ("Columbia")
McNair, Ronald Erwin (Challenger)
McAuliffe, Christa ("Challenger")
Onizuka, Allison (Challenger)
Ramon, Ilan ("Columbia")
Resnick, Judith Arlen (Challenger)
Scobie, Francis Richard ("Challenger")
Smith, Michael John ("Challenger")
White, Edward Higgins (Apollo 1)
Husband, Rick Douglas ("Columbia")
Chawla, Kalpana (Columbia)
Chaffee, Roger (Apollo 1)
It is worth considering that we will never know the stories of the death of some astronauts, because this information is secret.
Soyuz-1 disaster
“Soyuz-1 is the first Soviet manned spacecraft (KK) of the Soyuz series. Launched into orbit on April 23, 1967. There was one cosmonaut on board Soyuz-1 - Hero of the Soviet Union, engineer-colonel V. M. Komarov, who died during the landing of the descent module. Komarov’s backup in preparation for this flight was Yu. A. Gagarin.”
Soyuz-1 was supposed to dock with Soyuz-2 to return the crew of the first ship, but due to problems, the launch of Soyuz-2 was canceled.
After entering orbit, problems began with the operation of the solar battery; after unsuccessful attempts to launch it, it was decided to lower the ship to Earth.
But during the descent, 7 km from the ground, the parachute system failed, the ship hit the ground at a speed of 50 km per hour, tanks with hydrogen peroxide exploded, the cosmonaut died instantly, Soyuz-1 almost completely burned out, the remains of the cosmonaut were severely burned so that it was impossible to identify even fragments of the body.
“This disaster was the first time a person died in flight in the history of manned astronautics.”
The causes of the tragedy have never been fully established.
Soyuz-11 disaster
Soyuz 11 is a spacecraft whose crew of three cosmonauts died in 1971. The cause of death was the depressurization of the descent module during the landing of the ship.
Just a couple of years after the death of Yu. A. Gagarin (the famous cosmonaut himself died in a plane crash in 1968), having already followed the seemingly well-trodden path of conquest of outer space, several more cosmonauts passed away.
Soyuz-11 was supposed to deliver the crew to the Salyut-1 orbital station, but the ship was unable to dock due to damage to the docking unit.
Crew composition:
Commander: Lieutenant Colonel Georgy Dobrovolsky
Flight engineer: Vladislav Volkov
Research engineer: Viktor Patsayev
They were between 35 and 43 years old. All of them were posthumously awarded awards, certificates, and orders.
It was never possible to establish what happened, why the spacecraft was depressurized, but most likely this information will not be given to us. But it’s a pity that at that time our cosmonauts were “guinea pigs” who were released into space without much security or security after the dogs. However, probably many of those who dreamed of becoming astronauts understood what a dangerous profession they were choosing.
Docking occurred on June 7, undocking on June 29, 1971. There was an unsuccessful attempt to dock with the Salyut-1 orbital station, the crew was able to board the Salyut-1, even stayed at the orbital station for several days, a TV connection was established, but already during the first approach to the station the cosmonauts stopped filming for some smoke. On the 11th day, a fire started, the crew decided to descend on the ground, but problems emerged that disrupted the undocking process. Spacesuits were not provided for the crew.
On June 29 at 21.25 the ship separated from the station, but a little more than 4 hours later contact with the crew was lost. The main parachute was deployed, the ship landed in a given area, and the soft landing engines fired. But the search team discovered at 02.16 (June 30, 1971) the lifeless bodies of the crew; resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
During the investigation, it was found that the cosmonauts tried to eliminate the leak until the last minute, but they mixed up the valves, fought for the wrong one, and meanwhile missed the opportunity for salvation. They died from decompression sickness - air bubbles were found during autopsy even in the heart valves.
The exact reasons for the depressurization of the ship have not been named, or rather, they have not been announced to the general public.
Subsequently, engineers and creators of spacecraft, crew commanders took into account many of the tragic mistakes of previous unsuccessful flights into space.
Challenger shuttle disaster
“The Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when the space shuttle Challenger, at the very beginning of mission STS-51L, was destroyed by the explosion of its external fuel tank 73 seconds into flight, resulting in the death of all 7 crew members. The crash occurred at 11:39 EST (16:39 UTC) over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of central Florida, USA."
In the photo, the ship's crew - from left to right: McAuliffe, Jarvis, Resnik, Scobie, McNair, Smith, Onizuka
All of America was waiting for this launch, millions of eyewitnesses and viewers watched the launch of the ship on TV, it was the culmination of the Western conquest of space. And so, when the grand launch of the ship took place, seconds later, a fire began, later an explosion, the shuttle cabin separated from the destroyed ship and fell at a speed of 330 km per hour on the surface of the water, seven days later the astronauts would be found in the broken cabin at the bottom of the ocean. Until the last moment, before hitting the water, some crew members were alive and tried to supply air to the cabin.
There is an excerpt in the video below the article live broadcast with the launch and death of the shuttle.
“The Challenger shuttle crew consisted of seven people. Its composition was as follows:
The crew commander is 46-year-old Francis “Dick” R. Scobee. US military pilot, US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, NASA astronaut.
The co-pilot is 40-year-old Michael J. Smith. Test pilot, US Navy captain, NASA astronaut.
The scientific specialist is 39-year-old Ellison S. Onizuka. Test pilot, Lieutenant Colonel of the US Air Force, NASA astronaut.
The scientific specialist is 36-year-old Judith A. Resnick. Engineer and NASA astronaut. Spent 6 days 00 hours 56 minutes in space.
The scientific specialist is 35-year-old Ronald E. McNair. Physicist, NASA astronaut.
The payload specialist is 41-year-old Gregory B. Jarvis. Engineer and NASA astronaut.
The payload specialist is 37-year-old Sharon Christa Corrigan McAuliffe. A teacher from Boston who won the competition. For her, this was her first flight into space as the first participant in the “Teacher in Space” project.”
Last photo of the crew
To establish the causes of the tragedy, various commissions were created, but most of the information was classified; according to assumptions, the reasons for the ship’s crash were poor interaction between organizational services, irregularities in the operation of the fuel system that were not detected in time (the explosion occurred at launch due to the burnout of the wall of the solid fuel accelerator), and even. .terrorist attack. Some said that the shuttle explosion was staged to harm America's prospects.
Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
“The Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, shortly before the end of its 28th flight (mission STS-107). The final flight of the space shuttle Columbia began on January 16, 2003. On the morning of February 1, 2003, after a 16-day flight, the shuttle was returning to Earth.
NASA lost contact with the craft at approximately 14:00 GMT (09:00 EST), 16 minutes before its intended landing on Runway 33 at the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which was scheduled to take place at 14:16 GMT. Eyewitnesses filmed burning debris from the shuttle flying at an altitude of about 63 kilometers at a speed of 5.6 km/s. All 7 crew members were killed."
Crew pictured - From top to bottom: Chawla, Husband, Anderson, Clark, Ramon, McCool, Brown
The Columbia shuttle was making its next 16-day flight, which was supposed to end with a landing on Earth, however, as the main version of the investigation says, the shuttle was damaged during the launch - a piece of torn off thermal insulating foam (the coating was intended to protect tanks with oxygen and hydrogen) as a result of the impact, damaged the wing coating, as a result of which, during the descent of the apparatus, when the heaviest loads on the body occur, the apparatus began to overheat and, subsequently, destruction.
Even during the shuttle mission, engineers more than once turned to NASA management to assess the damage and visually inspect the shuttle body using orbital satellites, but NASA experts assured that there were no fears or risks and the shuttle would descend safely to Earth.
“The crew of the shuttle Columbia consisted of seven people. Its composition was as follows:
The crew commander is 45-year-old Richard “Rick” D. Husband. US military pilot, US Air Force colonel, NASA astronaut. Spent 25 days 17 hours 33 minutes in space. Before Columbia, he was commander of the shuttle STS-96 Discovery.
The co-pilot is 41-year-old William "Willie" C. McCool. Test pilot, NASA astronaut. Spent 15 days 22 hours 20 minutes in space.
The flight engineer is 40-year-old Kalpana Chawla. Scientist, first female NASA astronaut of Indian origin. Spent 31 days, 14 hours and 54 minutes in space.
The payload specialist is 43-year-old Michael P. Anderson. Scientist, NASA astronaut. Spent 24 days 18 hours 8 minutes in space.
Zoology specialist - 41-year-old Laurel B. S. Clark. US Navy captain, NASA astronaut. Spent 15 days 22 hours 20 minutes in space.
Scientific specialist (doctor) - 46-year-old David McDowell Brown. Test pilot, NASA astronaut. Spent 15 days 22 hours 20 minutes in space.
The scientific specialist is 48-year-old Ilan Ramon (English Ilan Ramon, Hebrew.אילן רמון). NASA's first Israeli astronaut. Spent 15 days 22 hours 20 minutes in space.”
The shuttle's descent took place on February 1, 2003, and within an hour it was supposed to land on Earth.
“On February 1, 2003, at 08:15:30 (EST), the space shuttle Columbia began its descent to Earth. At 08:44 the shuttle began to enter the dense layers of the atmosphere." However, due to damage, the leading edge of the left wing began to overheat. From 08:50, the ship's hull suffered severe thermal loads; at 08:53, debris began to fall off the wing, but the crew was alive and there was still communication.
At 08:59:32 the commander sent the last message, which was interrupted mid-sentence. At 09:00, eyewitnesses had already filmed the explosion of the shuttle, the ship collapsed into many fragments. that is, the fate of the crew was predetermined due to NASA’s inaction, but the destruction itself and the loss of life occurred in a matter of seconds.
It is worth noting that the Columbia shuttle was used many times, at the time of its death the ship was 34 years old (in operation by NASA since 1979, the first manned flight in 1981), it flew into space 28 times, but this flight turned out to be fatal.
No one died in space itself; about 18 people died in the dense layers of the atmosphere and in spaceships.
In addition to the disasters of 4 ships (two Russian - "Soyuz-1" and "Soyuz-11" and American - "Columbia" and "Challenger"), in which 18 people died, there were several more disasters due to an explosion, fire during pre-flight preparation , one of the most famous tragedies is a fire in an atmosphere of pure oxygen during preparation for the Apollo 1 flight, then three American astronauts died, and in a similar situation, a very young USSR cosmonaut, Valentin Bondarenko, died. The astronauts simply burned alive.
Another NASA astronaut, Michael Adams, died while testing the X-15 rocket plane.
Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin died in an unsuccessful flight on an airplane during a routine training session.
Probably, the goal of the people who stepped into space was grandiose, and it is not a fact that even knowing their fate, many would have renounced astronautics, but still we always need to remember at what cost the path to the stars was paved for us...
In the photo there is a monument to the fallen astronauts on the Moon
requirements. PREPARATION. PROSPECTS
If you are a citizen of the Russian Federation, you are no more than 35 years old and you know how to keep state secrets, you have a chance to become an astronaut.
How to do it?
Wait until Roscosmos and the Cosmonaut Training Center officially announce next recruitment to the Russian detachment (the 17th recruitment took place in 2017).
Send all the necessary documents to the head of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research Institute Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu.A. Gagarin" at the address: 141160, Moscow region, Star City, with the note "To the commission for the selection of cosmonaut candidates."
Successfully pass the “space” interview and entrance tests.
Dedicate at least six years to preparation and training.
Wait for assignment to the crew and, in fact, fly into space.
Not enough specifics? We talk in detail about how to make space your profession.
WHAT ARE THEY TAKEN TO BE COSMONAUTS?
Today you don’t have to be Yuri Gagarin to get into the squad: the requirements for the new recruits are much softer than for the first.
57 years ago, an astronaut had to be a member of the party, be an experienced military pilot no taller than 170 cm and no older than 30 years old, have impeccable health and physical fitness at the level of a master of sports.
Today, political beliefs do not in any way influence the outcome of selection, although a number of “strategic” restrictions are still present. Thus, the path to space is closed to holders of dual citizenship and residence permits on the territory of a foreign state.
As for the “compactness” of the first detachment, it is associated with the small size of the Voskhod-1 spacecraft. Height restrictions remain, but in general, modern astronauts have become much taller. According to experts, in the future - when developing new models of space technology - it will be possible to move away from rigid anthropometric frameworks. The requirements may be relaxed after the five-seat Federation spacecraft is put into operation.
But for now, even the length of the foot is regulated.
There is no lower age limit, but the candidate must have time to obtain a higher education and work in his specialty for at least three years. During this time, a person has time to “prove himself” from a professional point of view. Only diplomas of specialists and masters are “counted” (nothing is said about bachelors in modern requirements).
Most space programs are international, so candidates are also required to know in English at the program level of non-linguistic universities. To be fair, it is worth noting that the training of foreign astronauts also includes the study of Russian (mainly technical terms).
There are no “core” universities yet, but Roscosmos actively cooperates with the Moscow Aviation Institute, Moscow State Technical University named after. Bauman and the Faculty of Space Research of Moscow State University.
Since 2012, open enrollments have been held in the Russian Federation, which means that not only military pilots and employees of the rocket and space industry have a chance to become an astronaut. Although engineering and flight specialties are still a priority.
Do humanists have a chance? Yes, but not in the near future. So far, as experts emphasize, it is faster to teach an engineer or pilot to report or take photographs than to teach a professional journalist or photographer to understand complex space technology.
Regarding the level physical training, then the “space” standards are partially comparable with the GTO standards for age group from 18 to 29 years old. Candidates must demonstrate endurance, strength, speed, agility and coordination. Run 1 km in 3 minutes 35 seconds, do at least 14 pull-ups on the bar, or turn 360 degrees while jumping on a trampoline. And this is only a small part of the program.
The most stringent requirements are put forward for the health of potential cosmonauts. Problems that seem insignificant on Earth can become fatal under the influence of harsh space conditions.
If you get motion sickness while traveling, that's a problem. In space, where the usual concepts of up and down are absent as such, people with a strong vestibular apparatus are needed.
Regarding psychology: there are no fixed requirements for temperament, but, as doctors emphasize, both “pure” melancholic people and pronounced choleric people are not suitable for long-term missions. Space does not like extremes.
Yuri Malenchenko, pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation, first deputy head of the Scientific Research Institute of the Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu.A. Gagarin
The psychological strength of those we select is high enough for a person to work well with any team. People must be fairly balanced and primarily focused on completing the flight program
Yuri Malenchenko, pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation, first deputy head of the Scientific Research Institute of the Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu.A. Gagarin
It is also important to have a good memory, the ability to maintain attention, the ability to work extreme situations and under conditions of severe time pressure. And be punctual (work in space is scheduled by the hour). Therefore, we do not recommend that you be late for the interview.
Well, the common phrase that “if you really want to, you can fly into space” is not without practical meaning here. After all, one of the main requirements for future cosmonauts is strong motivation.
HOW THEY ON EARTH PREPARE FOR SPACE
Let's start with the fact that once you pass the selection process, you will not immediately become an astronaut. From “applicant to candidate” you will simply be transferred to “candidates”. Ahead of you are two years of general space training, after which you will have to pass State exam and receive the title "test cosmonaut".
They will be followed by two years of training in groups (which means about 150 more exams, tests and tests). And, if you are assigned to the crew, another 18 to 24 months will be spent preparing for the first flight under a specific program.
Despite all the romanticized ideas about the profession, most of your time will be spent studying the theory (from the structure of the starry sky to the dynamics of flight) and the principles of working with on-board systems and complex space equipment.
Oleg Kononenko,
I still remember the mnemonic rule for remembering and identifying constellations. So, the base constellation is Leo. And we remembered that Leo holds Cancer in his teeth, points at Virgo with his tail, and crushes the Cup with his paw.
Oleg Kononenko,
Russian pilot-cosmonaut, commander of the cosmonaut corps
During long-term training, you will begin to develop a set of certain qualities. Thus, professional composure, immunity to interference and multitasking are formed in the process of parachute training. During the jump, you concentrate not only on the flight, but also on other tasks, for example, reporting, solving problems, or deciphering ground signs. And, of course, it is important not to forget to open the parachute at an altitude of about 1200 meters. If you forget about it, the system will open it automatically, but the task will most likely not be counted towards you.
Another purely cosmic task is also associated with flights - creating weightlessness. The most “pure” possible on Earth occurs when flying along a certain trajectory, called the “Kepler parabola”. For these purposes, the Cosmonaut Training Center uses the Il-76 MDK laboratory aircraft. Within one “session” you have from 22 to 25 seconds to practice specific task. As a rule, the simplest ones are aimed at overcoming disorientation and testing coordination. For example, you may be asked to write a name, a date, or a signature.
Another way to “reproduce” weightlessness is to transfer training underwater, to the Hydrolab.
Also, the future cosmonaut must thoroughly study the structure of the International Space Station. To do this, you will have at your disposal a life-size model of the Russian segment of the ISS, which will allow you to familiarize yourself with the structure of each module, conduct a “rehearsal” of orbital scientific experiments and work out various situations - from routine to emergency. If necessary, training can be carried out in various “speed” modes: both at a slow and at an accelerated pace.
The program also includes regular missions during which you will have the opportunity to study foreign segments of the station, including the American (NASA), European (EKA) and Japanese modules (JAXA).
Well, then - to the “exit”. This is the name of the simulator based on the Orlan-M spacesuit, which simulates a spacewalk - in a professional environment, it is considered the most difficult and dangerous procedure. And, perhaps, most of the cosmic stereotypes are associated with it.
So, they don’t put on a spacesuit - they “enter” it through a special hatch located on the back. The hatch cover is also a backpack in which the main life support systems are located, designed for ten hours of autonomous operation. At the same time, “Orlan” is not monolithic - it has removable sleeves and trouser legs (allowing you to “adjust” the spacesuit to your specific height). Blue and red stripes on the sleeves help distinguish those in outer space (as a rule, all such work is carried out in pairs).
The control panel located on the chest allows you to adjust the ventilation and cooling systems of the spacesuit, as well as monitor vital signs. important indicators. If you are wondering why all the inscriptions on the case are mirrored, then this is for your own convenience. You won’t be able to read them “directly” (the suit is not that flexible), but you can do this with the help of a small mirror attached to the sleeve.
It takes a lot of effort to work at Orlan for at least a few hours. Thus, movement in a 120-kilogram spacesuit occurs exclusively with the help of the hands (the legs in the space environment generally cease to perform their usual functions). Every effort you put into squeezing your gloved fingers is comparable to working out with an expander. And during a spacewalk, you need to make at least 1200 such “grasping” movements.
Typically, in real space conditions, after working outside the ISS, you may need to spend several hours in the airlock chamber in order to equalize the pressure. On Earth, people are prepared for a long stay in confined spaces in a soundproof chamber - a small room with artificial lighting and soundproofed walls. As part of general space training, the candidate must spend about three days in it. Of these, 48 hours are in continuous activity mode, that is, absolutely without sleep.
As psychologists emphasize, even if at first it seems to you that you are easy-going, patient and socially adapted, two days of forced wakefulness will “rip off all your masks.”
The final stage of pre-flight training for astronauts is centrifuge training. The Cosmonaut Training Center has two at its disposal: TsF-7 and TsF-18. Contrary to popular belief, their size does not at all affect the “intensity” of the simulated overloads.
The maximum "power" of the overload created by the 18-meter TsF-18 is 30 units. An indicator incompatible with life. In Soviet times, when the requirements for cosmonauts were much stricter, overloads did not exceed 12 units. Modern training takes place in a more gentle mode - and the overload is up to 8 units.
What does the difference in size mean? As experts explain, the longer the centrifuge arm, the less discomfort your vestibular apparatus experiences, and the training goes more smoothly. Therefore, from the point of view of sensations, training on the relatively small TsF-7 can be more difficult than on the impressive TsF-18.
Also, before going into space, you will have to study in detail all the components of the flight: its theory, dynamics, processes of putting the ship into orbit, descent to Earth and, of course, the structure of the Soyuz MS itself. This usually takes about a year.
Oleg Kononenko,
Russian pilot-cosmonaut, commander of the cosmonaut corps
As for the preparation - when I boarded the ship for the first time (and it was already ready for launch and docked with the rocket), at first, of course, there was a feeling of excitement, but when the hatch was closed behind me, there was a complete feeling that I was in a simulator
Oleg Kononenko,
Russian pilot-cosmonaut, commander of the cosmonaut corps
Since it is not always possible to predict where the ship will land, you will have to go through a group of “survival” training in rather unfriendly locations: desert, mountains, taiga or open water. In a professional environment, this stage of preparation is considered an extreme analogue of team building.
Perhaps the most harmless component of pre-flight preparation is tasting and drawing up a space menu. To prevent everything from becoming boring during the flight, the diet is designed for 16 days. Then the set of dishes is repeated. Contrary to popular belief, freeze-dried products are not packaged in tubes, but in small plastic bags (the only exceptions are sauces and honey).
The main question: does everything you have completed guarantee that you will move on to the fourth stage of training, that is, a direct flight into space and honing the acquired skills outside of Earth?
Unfortunately no.
Thus, the annual medical expert commission can remove you at any stage (for your own good). After all, during training you will constantly test the strength of your own body’s reserve capabilities.
Yuri Malenchenko, pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation, first deputy head of the Scientific Research Institute of the Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu.A. Gagarin
It happens that a person is already ready to be included in the crew, but within a specific program there is simply no place for him. That's why we don't carry out kits on a regular basis, but as needed. To ensure that there are no “extra” astronauts and that everyone is distributed in the most optimal way
Yuri Malenchenko, pilot-cosmonaut of the Russian Federation, first deputy head of the Scientific Research Institute of the Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu.A. Gagarin
WHAT EXPECTS THOSE WHO PASSED ALL STAGES
What will those six to eight people who will eventually be enrolled in the detachment do?
If everything goes well, they will have the opportunity to join the ranks of those who have flown into space.
According to the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), this is . Among them are discoverers, explorers and holders of space records.
Over the next 10 years, the main place for implementing space programs will be the ISS. It is believed that “newcomers” need to spend at least a month at the station in order to feel confident and acquire all the necessary skills for further work.
The priority task of astronauts in orbit is to conduct scientific research that will help humanity advance in the further exploration of outer space. These include biological and medical experiments related to preparation for long-distance flights, growing plants in space conditions, testing new life support systems and working with new equipment.
During his third flight, Oleg Kononenko took part in the Russian-German experiment "Kontur-2", in which he remotely controlled a robot designed to explore planets.
Oleg Kononenko,
Russian pilot-cosmonaut, commander of the cosmonaut corps
Let's say we fly to Mars. We don’t know in advance where we can land. Accordingly, we will lower the robot to the surface of the planet and, by remotely controlling it, we will be able to select a landing site and land
Oleg Kononenko,
Russian pilot-cosmonaut, commander of the cosmonaut corps
You most likely will not have time to fly to Mars during your career. But to the Moon - quite.
The estimated launch date for the Russian lunar program is 2031. As we get closer to this date, adjustments will be made to the cosmonaut training process, but for now the set of disciplines is standard.
You will also get to understand space traditions: from the obligatory pre-flight viewing of “White Sun of the Desert” (for good luck) to avoiding the names of stones in call signs (for example, the tragically deceased cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov had the call sign “Ruby”). However, in our time, call signs are an anachronism, and MCC employees quite often communicate with astronauts “by name.”
The twentieth century gave us the world's first person in space, the first woman astronaut and the first person to walk in outer space. During the same period of time, man took his first steps on the Moon.
First man on the moon
The first spacecraft to bring people to the surface of the Moon was the American manned exploration spacecraft Apollo 11. The flight began on July 16 and ended on July 24, 1969.The pilot and crew commander: Edwin Aldrin and Neil Armstrong spent almost a day on the surface of the Moon. The time they spent there was twenty-one hours, thirty-six minutes and twenty-one seconds. All this time, the command module was controlled by Michael Collins, who, while in orbit, was waiting for a signal.
Astronauts made one exit to the surface of the Moon. Its duration is almost two and a half hours. The first step onto the surface of this planet was taken by crew commander Armstrong. Fifteen minutes later, Aldrin joined him. During the surface exit, the astronauts planted a US flag on the Moon, took several kilograms of soil for further research, and also installed research instruments. They took the first photographs of the landscape. Thanks to the installed equipment, it became possible to determine with maximum accuracy the distance between the Moon and the Earth. This significant event took place on July 20, 1969.
Thus, America won the lunar race, being the first to land on the surface of the earth's satellite, and the national goal set by John Kennedy was considered fulfilled.
It should be noted that some researchers call the landing of American astronauts on the Earth’s natural satellite the largest hoax of the twentieth century. They also provide a number of evidence that the above-described landing did not take place at all.
First man in outer space
Man first went into outer space in 1965. We are talking about the Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov. He set off on that significant flight on March 18 together with his partner Pavel Belyaev on the Voskhod-2 spacecraft. 
Having reached orbit, Leonov donned a spacesuit designed for spacewalks. The oxygen supply in it was enough for forty-five minutes. Belyaev at this time began to install a flexible airlock chamber, through which Leonov was supposed to enter space. Having taken all necessary precautions, Leonov left the ship. In total, the astronaut spent 12 minutes 9 seconds outside of it. At this time, Leonov’s partner sent a message to Earth that the man had gone into outer space. An image of an astronaut hovering against the background of the Earth was broadcast on television.
During the return, I had to worry, because in the vacuum conditions the suit was greatly inflated, which is why Leonov did not fit into the airlock chamber. Finding himself a prisoner of outer space, he independently found a way out of this situation, realizing that in this case, advice from Earth would not help him. To reduce the size of the spacesuit, the astronaut vented excess oxygen. He did this gradually, at the same time trying to squeeze into the cell. Every minute counted. Leonov prefers not to tell anyone about his experiences at that moment.
Difficulties with the spacesuit were not the last troubles of that significant flight. It turned out that the orientation system did not work, and the astronauts were forced to switch to manual control to land. The result of such a landing was that Belyaev and Leonov landed in a different place than expected. The capsule ended up in the taiga, 180 kilometers from Perm. Two days later, the astronauts were discovered. This successful flight was marked by awarding Leonov and Belyaev the title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
First woman astronaut
The first woman to go into space was Valentina Tereshkova. She carried out her flight alone, which in itself is an unprecedented case. Tereshkova was chosen for this flight from a large number of parachutists. 
The Vostok-6 spacecraft found itself in Earth orbit on June 16, 1963. The Soviet Union became not only the first country to send an astronaut into space, but also the first country to send a woman into space. This step was politically motivated.
It is surprising that the relatives of the world's first female astronaut learned about her flight into space from radio messages only after she made a successful landing. Knowing that the flight could very well end in tragedy, the girl chose to keep the upcoming event a secret.
Tereshkova's flight lasted 22 hours and 41 minutes. During this time, the first female cosmonaut made forty-eight orbits around our planet. Her call sign is “Seagull”.
The first person to go into space
As you know, the first person to go into space is Yuri Gagarin. His historic flight, which thundered throughout the world, took place on April 12, 1961. This date is called “Cosmonautics Day”. During the time spent in orbit, Gagarin completed the entire planned program. According to his recollections, he carefully recorded all his observations, examined the Earth and even ate.Well, not a single astronaut will go to the largest star in the universe, the radius of which is one and a half thousand times greater than the radius of the sun. According to the website, there are no plans to send people outside yet. solar system.
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