Maxim Kharlamov, the head of the Cosmonaut Training Center named after Yu.A. Gagarin, part of Roskosmos, told reporters that the Belarusian candidate for space flight and his backup will be announced after the New Year. The information was reported by TASS, and it reflects the ongoing process within the space program’s selection track.
Kharlamov explained that the applicants are currently undergoing a comprehensive medical examination. The results of these medical tests will determine who is eligible to proceed to the next stage of training and ultimately to the flight crew. The medical evaluation is a critical gatekeeper, ensuring that only those with the required health and fitness levels advance in the demanding environment of space travel.
According to Kharlamov, the medical commission will issue its recommendations on 28 December, after which the Belarusian side will identify the priority candidates. He noted that the selection process is likely to produce two finalists after the New Year, signaling a narrowing of options and a clear path toward finalizing the crew assignments.
Vladimir Gusakov, who previously served as Chairman of the Presidium of the Belarusian National Academy of Sciences, told socialbites.ca that Belarus hopes for long-term cooperation with Roscosmos in the field of manned cosmonautics. He stated that Belarus’s participation in crewed spaceflight could logically continue and that collaboration with the state space agency Roscosmos in this area might become permanent and even expand, underscoring a strategic partnership aimed at sustaining joint space exploration efforts.