For two weeks ISS-40/41 mission main and back-up crew members have been passing preflight exams in GCTC. Cosmonauts and astronauts demonstrated their skills of manual approaching, docking and descent of Soyuz TMA-M spacecraft and cargo vehicles manual remote control.

According to preflight preparation program both main and back-up crews were to have a standard flight day. In the framework of this training it is necessary to practice full working day on Russian ISS segment simulator coping with possible nominal and off-nominal situations.

ISS-40/41 mission main crew comprising Maksim Surayev (Roscosmos), Reid Wiseman (NASA) and Alexander Gerst (ESA) has already had its standard flight day. The cosmonauts accomplished training program in the course of which they had to face various off-nominal situations.

Back-up crew members Anton Shkaplerov (Roscosmos), Samantha Christoforetti (ESA) and Terry Virts (NASA) also had the same training.

Upon the completion of all operation state commission assessed the crew’s actions. Training participants successfully coped with the tasks set in accordance with the time schedule.

Main and back-up crews have complex examination trainings on ISS Russian segment simulator and Soyuz TMA-M spacecraft simulator in front of them. The trainings are scheduled for May 6 and 7, 2014.

Image credit: GCTC