NASA astronaut Scott Tingle and JAXA astronaut Norishige Kanai started their preflight trainings in Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre in Star City, Moscow region.
“I am very happy to start these trainings. The people and atmosphere of this place inspire me a lot. As Yuri Gagarin said “Go on!” – NASA astronaut reports.
JAXA astronaut added that for him it’s a great honour to live and train here. “I’m sure GCTC instructors are highly qualified specialists and will train us well”.
GCTC training program starts with survival trainings but before starting 2-days winter trainings on survival in marshy and forested areas Tingle and Kanai will attend theoretical courses.
According to the program the astronauts will study Soyuz TMA-M and Soyuz MS spacecrafts and Russian ISS segment design and layout.
The specialists will instruct the astronauts on activities in case of landing in various climate areas.
The program also stipulates biomedical science studies and Russian language lessons.
Exams and complex examination training will sup up the results of preflight preparations.