State Corporation Roscosmos has announced the fourth open recruitment for its cosmonaut corps, inviting eligible candidates to submit their documents by the deadline of October 30. The notice, reported by DEA News, outlines the path to join one of the most demanding and prestigious programs in space exploration. The recruitment drive aims to identify motivated individuals who can endure rigorous training, maintain peak physical and mental health, and embrace the demanding responsibilities of spaceflight and research conducted beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
The competition is open to any citizen of the Russian Federation who is under 35 years of age and who meets the required qualifications. The selection process is designed to sift through a large pool of applicants, evaluating not only physical fitness and medical readiness but also scientific aptitude, problem-solving skills, teamwork, and the capacity to operate under extreme situations. Those who meet the criteria and perform well in the initial stages will be invited to participate in face-to-face testing to verify professional eligibility and readiness for the demanding training program that follows.
Applicants must assemble a comprehensive package that includes personal and medical documentation to be submitted to the competition commission. The process begins with a correspondence check to ensure all materials are complete and properly documented. After this initial review, prospective cosmonauts will be asked to attend examinations and assessments in person. The goal of this stage is to confirm that each candidate meets the strict standards required to advance to the next phase, which includes fitness evaluations, psychological testing, and technical assessments relevant to spaceflight operations.
The government agency has emphasized that this marks the fourth time such an open selection has been conducted, following previous cycles in 2012, 2018, and 2021. In those earlier rounds, a total of twenty candidates were chosen to join the Roscosmos cosmonaut corps. The ongoing program reflects Roscosmos’ commitment to expanding its pool of trained astronauts, improving mission readiness, and maintaining a robust cadre for future expeditions, including lunar and deep-space research initiatives that Russia plans to pursue in the coming years.
Beyond the recruitment news, officials have pointed to strategic goals tied to Russia’s broader space program. Yuri Borisov, who leads Roscosmos, has publicly discussed the aim of completing the formation of the Russian Orbital Station (ROS) by 2032. This planned orbital infrastructure would serve as a platform for international collaboration, long-duration missions, and advanced experiments spanning life sciences, materials research, and satellite technology. The leadership’s remarks underscore a longer horizon for space exploration that extends well beyond individual astronaut selections and into the development of sustained human presence in low Earth orbit.
Historically, scientists have explored various theories about how to protect human life in extreme scenarios, including the risks posed by nuclear events. Earlier research considered optimal locations and architectural designs for shielding and rapid response in the event of a nuclear explosion. While such studies are framed within safety and defense contexts, they also inform broader discussions about resilience, redundancy, and safety planning in extreme environments—lessons that can be relevant to long-duration space missions and the design of orbital facilities where astronauts live and work for extended periods. This broader context helps illuminate why space agencies emphasize medical readiness, psychological stability, and robust emergency procedures as essential components of astronaut training and mission planning.