Spaceflight missions to the International Space Station aren’t cheap but money isn’t the only prerequisite. Space Adventures’ clients are treated almost like professional cosmonauts – they have to complete a comprehensive training. The training is conducted in Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City.
Star City
The manned space-flight program in the USSR required the creation of a specialized cosmonaut training facility. After the decision of the Air Force Commander-in-Chief who ordered the establishment of a CTC (Cosmonaut Training Center) on January 11, 1960, the Y. A. Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center received its name in 1968 after the first earth's cosmonaut. It is very difficult to say how the name "Star City" appeared. Millions of Soviet people could see TV reports from Star City but nobody knew where the town was. Information about it stopped being secret only in the early 90's but it was still impossible to find on the maps. Currently, the population of Star City is around 6 thousand people and 70% of them still work in the space field.
Spaceflight training
It’s demanding and challenging. In some cases the training is conducted alongside professional astronauts and cosmonauts.
Space Simulators
The Soyuz Simulator has been used since the 1960s to train cosmonauts in flying the most reliable spacecraft available.During the training in "Soyuz-TM" simulator you will be seated inside your special pressure suit in the pilot seat of Soyuz spaceship. Your task will be to dock with your space craft at the ISS not computer-aided, but only with hand and joystick control. Imagine how difficult it is to hold course if your speed is approximately 7,000 meter per second (28000 km per hour).
International Space Station simulators gives the opportunity to get into the Russian segment of ISS without flying to the space. You can see an actual interior of the modules and on-board equipment and hardware. This simulator is very important for those who plan to be space tourists because they must practice the skills on how to live in the ISS.
Centrifuge
Centrifuge program is an important part of cosmonauts and military pilots training programs and even for space equipment testing. This training helps to prepare cosmonauts to conditions of both high G-loads and "physiological weightlessness". You would have the opportunity to feel exactly the same way as cosmonaut does during launch, flight and landing. Whereas the centrifuge simulates a maximum of 30-Gs you will experience up to only about 4-Gs.This short centrifuge test (540 sec) will show how your body would survive in extreme conditions. It is the only real way to fully prove your readiness to go to outer space.
Neutral Buoyancy Training
Neutral buoyancy is the term used to describe when something has an equal tendency to float as it does sink. Objects that are configured to be neutrally buoyant seem to "hover" underwater. This is accomplished with a combination of weights and flotation devices. Large, neutrally buoyant items can be easily manipulated much like in orbit. This is the closest simulation of weightlessness on the surface of the Earth.At Star City, the neutral buoyancy tank provides an excellent environment for testing hardware designed to operate in space while practicing techniques used for ISS assembly or servicing and repairing spacecraft.
Questions
- Would you like to take part in a space flight training?
- Do you think that so comprehensive training is required for a space flight?
It would be wonderful experience to be able to take part in this kind of training. A certificate would be a nice addition ;)
ReplyDeleteI think Space Organization wants to be 100% sure that the man they are training will be able to move in space, after all he/she pays $20 mln, so additional options (coffee each day, free food, 4-star hotel, etc.) are most welcome.
I think this kind of training would be remarkable experience. Did you know for a little less money you can experience zero gravity?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLoR42o_Wuw
btw did you notice ISS is similar to IIS? strange isn't it?
Training is very important, conditions in space are totally different than on Earth. Without training one could not survive in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kamil absolutely. Such training is amazing experience and what is more important you need to know how to move in space.
ReplyDeleteFrom the other hand such trip could be danger without proper training.
I would never dare to take part in such training. My conditions is ... poor, so to say.
ReplyDeleteI guess such hard training is necessary.
Did you know?
Some time ago, my friend told me that if you want to be an astronaut your IQ have to be less than 110. The reason for this is that people with higher IQ score are too independent thinkers and are harder to control. I do not know if this true, but sounds reasonable.
I think this kind of training is necessary for space trip. They must be sure that you are able to this. I'm interesting in taking part of such preparation. :) Nice experience :)
ReplyDelete>A certificate would be a nice addition ;)
ReplyDeleteAre you one of those certificate collectors Kamil? :D
I didn't know about Russia's Star City (more like a town though, with 8 thousand inhabitants), but I laughed when the person in the video mentioned Richard Garriot. The whole video was more about Garriot than Star City, so it was kind of a let down in my opinion, but oh well ;)
Yes, it's obvious that one needs to have a good physical and mental condition in order to go to space, so a comprehensive training program such as this seems like a necessity.
Like I said in the comments section of the previous part, I don't know if I'll be able to go to space, but if I will have the money and physical capabilities then sure, training included :)
Spaceflight and related training is a fantastic adventure. I would like to take a part in such training. It would be a very interesting experience to participate in the mission of NASA and ESA, and to be able to reach it you need special training.
ReplyDelete