“There were no restrictions on the type of event”: who the Belarusians will send into space

– From whom are the astronauts selected? Is priority given to military pilots, scientists, as in the USSR and the USA, or are all volunteers accepted?

– I apologize for the somewhat “dryness” of the answer to this question, but I will use the official wording. So, male and female citizens of the Republic of Belarus permanently residing in the territory of the Republic of Belarus and submitting the application of the settled form with a request to participate in the election and expressing their readiness to undergo a medical examination in the appropriate manner. Participants were considered candidates for a spaceflight training with basic medical requirements. space flights of the state company “Roscosmos”. In fact, there were no special requirements or restrictions on the type of activity, features of civil or military service.

What criteria are used to select people? After all, since Gagarin’s time, sanitary requirements have ceased to be strict, and high automation makes it possible to send only professionals into space.

— Specialists of the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences got acquainted in detail with the experience of their Russian colleagues in the selection of candidates for a space flight. It is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the state of health of participants in space flights, determined by the state organization Roscosmos. I would like to point out that one of the selection criteria is the cosmonaut candidate’s ability to complete the scientific research program to be conducted on the ISS. Although health requirements are still in the first place.

Besides gender, there were no restrictions on strata of society, the presence of awards and titles.

The criteria used were purely functional: education, professional qualifications and work experience. In particular, candidates between the ages of 25 and 40, with higher education (preferably within the scope of master’s, master’s, doctoral program) or academic degrees, academic titles in the following key fields: physics, physical and technical sciences and technologies, medical sciences, chemistry, botany , biological sciences, aeronautics and rocket and space technology, instrumentation, optics and biotechnical systems and technologies.

Candidates must have at least three years of work experience in the specialty after receiving the first higher education, and also have knowledge of English under the program of a non-language higher education institution.

– At what stage is the election now?

— In April-June we formed a group of candidates and organized medical examinations in the medical institutions of Belarus. According to the survey results, 29 people were offered for further selection, 9 of whom were women. The next stage of selection is the competency area of ​​the Cosmonaut Training Center. Yu.A. Gagarin State Company “Roscosmos”. According to the results of the second stage, Belarusian candidates (main and reserve) will be determined to prepare for space flight.

— What tasks do Belarusian cosmonauts plan to solve in orbit?

— The list of areas of the scientific program was agreed with Russian colleagues. It includes scientific research using the achievements and infrastructure of Belarusian scientists in the field of medicine, biology, physiology, as well as ensuring the autonomous functioning of space stations and remote sensing of the Earth.

A detailed list of the target work of the Belarusian cosmonaut will be determined jointly with the state agency “Roscosmos” in the process of preparing for the flight.

— Is it planned to make the Belarusian presence in space permanent?

– The flight of the sovereign Belarusian cosmonaut to a near-Earth orbit is a kind of pilot project. Based on its results, it is necessary to make a balanced and comprehensive assessment of the prospects of specially organized space exploration on scientific topics of common interest.

I dare to express my hope and belief that our country’s participation in manned flights will continue logically and that the cooperation with the government agency Roscosmos in this field will become permanent and even expand.

The basis for this is our serious scientific developments, as well as the responsibility, efficiency and other qualities of Belarusians who have proven themselves as reliable allies and partners.

— Is Belarus equipped for preliminary training of cosmonaut candidates?

– During the Soviet Union, direct training of cosmonauts was not carried out in Belarus. Therefore, of course, we do not have very specific capabilities, including laboratories and equipment for such training. Cosmonauts Pyotr Klimuk, Vladimir Kovalenok and Oleg Novitsky, born in our country, were trained for space flights in Russia. Cosmonaut Training Center. yu. A. Gagarin has all the necessary infrastructure and equipment.

At the same time, the ISS has Belarusian-made video and photospectral equipment used by Russian cosmonauts to conduct scientific experiments on remote sensing of the Earth and near-Earth space. With the use of this equipment, the Belarusian cosmonaut will also have to conduct a series of scientific experiments. Thus, Belarusian participation can be seen not only in the presentation of talented and physically healthy candidates, but also in their knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as in the equipment, technical and technological support of space exploration.