March 15, 2021
Categories: GCTC, ISS

The Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center offers a specialized TS-18 manual control descent simulator based on the TsF-18 centrifuge. The simulator enables cosmonaut training to control the Soyuz-TMA spacecraft under real overload that the crew experiences during the reentry and landing. During the exam, the cosmonauts show an algorithm of actions in case an automatic failure during the descent or a recommendation to switch to a manual control descent.

The crew commander and the flight engineer take the exam in turn. They have only one paper with four tasks for each; there are two modes: static and dynamic. The cosmonaut performs the first two tasks in a stationary centrifuge, and the other two in a rotating centrifuge. The main task in any mode is to land the capsule with minimal overload and as close as possible to the calculated point.

Roscosmos cosmonaut, ISS-65 prime crew commander Oleg Novitsky and Roscosmos cosmonaut, flight engineer Pyotr Dubrov were the first to pass the exam, their backups cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Oleg Artemiev followed the next day. Most of the exam training during the session is to ensure that the cosmonauts can cope with emergencies.

‘Compared to the automatic descent, the manual control one is rather a reserve one, and has not yet been used in reality. But we must prepare cosmonauts for this spacecraft control mode to comprehensively ensure their safety,’ Igor Karyukin, instructor of the ISS-65 backup crew for spacecraft integrated training explained.

As a repeated prime and backup crewmember, commander of the ISS-65 backup crew Anton Shkaplerov took this exam eight times.

‘I have trained a lot, so I don’t think the exam is difficult, you just need to follow the methodology. Two static modes and two dynamic modes. The centrifuge rotation speed and G-load indicators are changing,’ Anton Shkaplerov said. ‘Indeed, the Soviet and Russian cosmonauts have not yet had to go over to manual control descent. But the odds still exist, so training continues. During a ballistic descent, the G-load is several times higher, therefore, if possible, in case automatics fails, it is better to switch to manual control descent.’

Starting on March 19, 2021, the ISS-65 prime and backup crews will begin complex examination trainings, completing the pre-flight session.

More from this category:
August 29, 2013

European Space Agency and Roscosmos are discussing Europe participation in Russian moon exploration projects, – ESA Head Rene Pischel told the journalists at MAKS-2013 Airshow….

full story
The Russian Federation will complete the second stage of creation of the national orbital station in 2033
June 11, 2024

The second stage of the Russian Orbital Station (ROS) is planned to be carried out in 2031-2033, reported Alexander Bloshenko, executive director of Roscosmos for…

full story
January 15, 2016

Proton booster will be launched for European Space Agency needs according to EDRS program from Baikonur spaceport on January 27, 2016, – ESA Head Johann-Dietrich…

full story
July 10, 2019

At the Baikonur cosmodrome the preparations continue for the launch of the “Soyuz MS-13” spacecraft to the International Space Station. Today, on July 10, 2019,…

full story
December 26, 2014

Proton-M booster with European Astra-2G telecommunication satellite will be launched from Baikonur spaceport on Sunday, – Roscosmos spokesman reported. The launch is scheduled for December…

full story
January 11, 2020

On January 11, 1960, the Cosmonaut Training Center was formed in the Green (nowadays world famous Star) City. In the late 1960s, the Center was…

full story
June 3, 2014

Progress M-21M cargo vehicle will be undocked from the ISS and sank in the Pacific Ocean on June 9, – MCC representative reported. “The vehicle…

full story
January 26, 2015

From January 19 up to February 9, 2015 GCTC is conducting winter survival trainings for the following crews: – ISS-48/49 (Anatoliy Ivanishin, Roscosmos, Takuya Onishi,…

full story