Recruitment for astronauts. Second open recruitment to the cosmonaut corps. What awaits those who have completed all stages?

Roscosmos is opening recruitment for the cosmonaut corps for the second time; now crews are being recruited not only for flights to the Moon, but also to support the planned launch program. About it FBA "Economy Today" said Academician of the Russian Academy of Cosmonautics named after Tsiolkovsky Alexander Zheleznyakov.

“The last time Roscosmos publicly recruited candidates was in 2012 - then 304 applications were received from applicants, and in the end 8 people were selected. Before that, since 1959, recruitment took place according to fundamentally different principles. First of all, applicants were recommended by doctors, and for those whoever passed their “sieve” was taken by representatives of the “competent authorities”, thoroughly checking every stage of the person’s biography. There was a system for suggesting candidates, there was no talk of public recruitment,” the specialist notes.

Previously, First Deputy General Director of the state corporation Alexander Ivanov said: on March 14, Roscosmos begins recruiting cosmonauts into the corps, the process will last until the end of the year. The company plans to select 6-8 candidates. According to Ivanov, the applicants selected this year will be able to work both in near space (on the ISS) and in far space - to make the first flight on the promising Federation spacecraft to the Moon. The main stages of candidate selection will take place at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. Documents are proposed to be sent by mail with notification or delivered by the applicant personally to the address: 141160, Moscow region, Star City, to the head of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research Institute Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu.A. Gagarin" with the note "To the commission for the selection of cosmonaut candidates."

“Of course, a candidate for cosmonaut must pass a test for physical and mental health. There will also be physical tests. Of course, for men and women they differ, but not very significantly - the indicators of strength and endurance should only reflect the general physical fitness of the applicant, they are far from world standards records.

In addition, the future cosmonaut will have to deal with technology, the analogues of which he has never seen. Therefore, special requirements are placed on the applicant’s intelligence, learning ability and education. With a high school diploma, of course, there are no options to pass the selection process. An engineering or military-technical education is welcome, but there have been cases of exceptions for candidates who showed a high level of required knowledge without a specialized diploma. In the end, after going through all the stages of selection and approval of the applicant, the basics of the specifics of working in space and handling equipment will still be taught,” the specialist emphasizes.

The requirements for astronauts are quite serious.

Qualified applicants will be able to become the first Russians to fly to the moon

According to a document published on the Roscosmos website, potential cosmonauts will have to go through three stages of selection. Initially, they must be under 35 years old, applications are considered only from citizens of the Russian Federation. Applicants must have a higher education in engineering, science or flight specialties and have work experience. Priority will be given to people who worked in the aviation and rocket and space industries of the Russian Federation. In addition, applicants will have to demonstrate the ability to understand the basics and principles of constructing technical systems, understanding their physical essence, and the ability to remember technical information, terminology and technical characteristics. Knowledge of English is also welcome. language.

Candidates will have to undergo a series of tests to prove physical fitness. Among them are 1-kilometer running or 5-kilometer cross-country skiing, swimming, pull-ups, long jump and three-meter springboard. To assess specific physical fitness, candidates will be required to pass the Romberg test and demonstrate long diving ability. In addition, they will undergo tests on an exercise bike and a treadmill.

“The Roscosmos Corporation does not seek to train redundant personnel - the number of candidates is calculated taking into account the needs of today and the planned launch program for the coming years. As a rule, people do not become cosmonauts for the sake of a salary - this has its own romance, a person must be inspired by space, dream about However, although the salaries of non-flying cosmonauts are lower than those of experienced colleagues, at the all-Russian level they are quite decent.

The career life of an astronaut can be relatively long - just remember the famous Pavel Vinogradov, who celebrated his 60th anniversary in low-Earth orbit. There are quite a lot of examples of people over 50 actively taking it. Those who, due to age or state of health, are no longer allowed to start, are not left without work - if they do not become State Duma deputies, then they occupy high leadership positions in Roscosmos or other specialized structures,” concludes Alexander Zheleznyakov.

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 the 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 have knowledge of 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.
As for the level of physical fitness, the “space” standards are partially comparable to the GTO standards for the age group from 18 to 29 years. 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 Research Institute of the Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu.A. Gagarin

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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 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, and the ability to work in 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 about “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 the State exam and receive the title of “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, it will take another 18 to 24 months to prepare 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,

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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 a 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 suit, as well as monitor vital signs. 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 may 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

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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 Research Institute of the Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu.A. Gagarin

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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 perform 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 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

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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 be inspired by 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 cosmonaut selection campaign starts on March 14, 2017 - the Interdepartmental Commission decided to conduct the FSBI “Research Institute Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu.A. Gagarin" (CPC) competition for the selection of candidates for the ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut corps in 2017.

The goal is to select the best specialists who, having skills in working with space and/or aviation technology, will become the first pilots of the new Russian spacecraft "Federation", will work on the International Space Station (ISS) program, and will also become the first Russians to fly to Moon.

According to the terms of the competition, it is expected to select six to eight people who will complement the ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut corps.

Contestants will have to go through several stages. Selection for compliance with educational and professional suitability requirements requires that applicants for cosmonaut candidates have the body of knowledge necessary to successfully complete cosmonaut training programs. A set of medical examinations will allow for the next stage of selection of applicants. Successful completion of a set of measures to assess the psychological qualities of applicants is a necessary condition for winning the competition. Candidates will also be required to undergo testing to meet physical fitness requirements.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

An applicant for cosmonaut candidates in the Russian Federation may be a citizen of the Russian Federation.
The age of applicants must not exceed 35 years.
Applicants must have a university degree in engineering, science or flight science and have work experience. Priority in selection is given to persons with experience in the aviation, rocket and space industries of the Russian Federation.
Applicants must meet the following requirements necessary for subsequent preparation for space flight, in particular:
- have the ability to study space technology (demonstrate the ability to understand the basics and principles of constructing technical systems, understanding their physical essence, the ability to remember technical information, terminology and technical characteristics);
- have knowledge of interaction with computer technology;
- know a foreign language (English) within the framework of the requirements of programs of non-linguistic universities of the Russian Federation, etc.

A complete list of requirements for candidates and a list of required documents can be found on the website of the ROSCOSMOS State Corporation and the CPC.

The main stages of selecting candidates for ROSCOSMOS cosmonauts will take place on the basis of the Cosmonaut Training Center named after. Yu.A. Gagarin.

Documents are sent by mail with notification or delivered by the applicant personally to the address: 141160, Moscow region, Star City, to the head of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Research Institute of Cosmetic Training Center named after Yu.A. Gagarin" with the note "To the commission for the selection of cosmonaut candidates."

The goal is to select the best specialists who, having skills in working with space and/or aviation technology, will become the first pilots of the new Russian Federation spacecraft, will work on the International Space Station (ISS) program, and will also become the first Russians to fly to Moon.

According to the terms of the competition, it is expected to select six to eight people who will complement the ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut corps.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

An applicant for cosmonaut candidates in the Russian Federation may be a citizen of the Russian Federation.
The age of applicants must not exceed 35 years.
Applicants must have a university degree in engineering, science or flight science and have work experience. Priority in selection is given to persons with experience in the aviation, rocket and space industries of the Russian Federation.
Applicants must meet the following requirements necessary for subsequent preparation for space flight, in particular:
- have the ability to study space technology (demonstrate the ability to understand the basics and principles of constructing technical systems, understanding their physical essence, the ability to remember technical information, terminology and technical characteristics);
- have knowledge of interaction with computer technology;
- know a foreign language (English) within the framework of the requirements of programs of non-linguistic universities of the Russian Federation, etc.

A complete list of requirements for candidates and a list of required documents can be found on the website of the ROSCOSMOS State Corporation and the CPC.

The main stages of selecting candidates for ROSCOSMOS cosmonauts will take place on the basis of the Cosmonaut Training Center named after. Yu.A. Gagarin.

Alexander Khokhlov On March 14, 2017, the Roscosmos state corporation announced the second open competition to select candidates for the cosmonaut corps. Information about the recruitment was posted on the website of the state corporation and on the website of the Cosmonaut Training Center named after. Yu. A. Gagarin. According to representatives of Roscosmos, it is planned to select 6-8 cosmonaut candidates.

Applicants will have to go through first the correspondence and then the full-time stages. As part of the absentee program, documents from competitors will be considered according to the list given in the Regulations on the selection of cosmonauts. Documents must be sent before July 14, 2017 by mail with notification or brought in person to the address: 141 160, Moscow region, Star City, to the head of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research Institute Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu. A. Gagarin" with the note "To the commission for the selection of cosmonaut candidates" .

The face-to-face stage includes an interview and a professional aptitude exam, physical fitness testing, and an in-depth medical and psychological examination.

Starting in July, applicants selected at the correspondence stage will be invited to the CPC named after. Yu. A. Gagarin (payment of travel and accommodation - at the expense of the competitors). From those who passed the full-time stage in December 2017, 6-8 people will be selected who best suit the conditions of the competition.

Candidates must be citizens of Russia no older than 35 years old, have a higher technical or natural science education or experience in the aviation, rocket and space industries, have good learning ability, have excellent health and physical fitness, and know English at the level of a technical university.

Selected cosmonaut candidates will begin general space training (1.5 years) at the Cosmonaut Training Center in 2018. Yu. A. Gagarin and then, based on the exam results, will be able to become Roscosmos cosmonauts.
Photo by N. Paltusova According to the state corporation, the selected cosmonauts will be able to participate in three manned programs: testing the new Russian Federation spacecraft, work on the International Space Station (ISS), and the first manned Russian flights to the Moon.

The new selection requirements contain a number of innovations compared to the selection requirements in 2012. For example, now a person who has a second citizenship or a residence permit in another country cannot be an astronaut. The number of medical tests that must be taken in absentia has increased. It is surprising that there is no official selection schedule in advance.

For example, in the astronaut selection competitions currently underway in the USA and Canada, all dates were known in advance. The point about higher education raises a question: it is not clear whether a master’s degree obtained outside of Russia will be accepted.

An analysis of the requirements shows that Roscosmos and the TsPK did not listen to the opinions of experts expressed back in 2012. The age limit - up to 35 years - cuts off many accomplished specialists, showing at the same time that the selected candidates will wait a very long time for their turn for the first flight into space.

This is also evidenced by the fact that since 2017, the number of Russian cosmonauts in the main ISS crews has been decreasing from 3 to 2 people. And the commissioning of the new MLM scientific module on the Russian segment of the ISS is again shifting to the right. It was his docking with the station that Roscosmos called as a reason to again increase the number of Russian cosmonauts in the crew.

But, despite all the difficulties, I would like to wish success to all young people who have decided to try themselves in the open recruitment for the cosmonaut corps.