Peculiarities of open competitive cosmonaut selection in Russia in 2012
- Paper number
IAC-13,B3,5,3,x19173
- Author
Dr. Igor G. Sokhin, Yu.A. Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center, Russian Federation
- Coauthor
Dr. Sergey Krikalev, Yu.A. Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center, Russian Federation
- Coauthor
Dr. Boris I. Kryuchkov, Yu.A. Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center, Russian Federation
- Coauthor
Dr. Oleg Kotov, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russian Federation
- Coauthor
Mr. Maxim Kharlamov, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russian Federation
- Coauthor
Dr. Vladimir Pochuev, Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Russian Federation
- Year
2013
- Abstract
The first open competitive cosmonaut selection was held in Russia in 2012. Before, the competitions had been held within departments and then the selected cosmonauts were enrolled in the corps. The united cosmonaut corps of Roscosmos was created as an organizational unit of Y.A.Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in 2011. The total time of selection process, beginning from the announcement of selection in mass-media to the moment when the selected candidates were enlisted into the cosmonaut corps was 9 months. The competition consisted of two large stages – by correspondence and intramural. During the correspondence stage the experts examined the biographical data, diplomas and medical certificates, presented by applicants, for compliance with the requirements. After going through this type of screening about 78% of applicants were refused and 50% of them for medical reasons. So, 22% of a total number of applicants were allowed to the intramural stage. At this stage the applicants had to pass through psychological, physical fitness, educational and professional competence screening. At the end of this type “filtering” about 15,4% of applicants were refused. Medical examination of remaining applicants (6.6% of the total number of applicants – 20 persons) was carried out at the final phase. According to the result of this examination exactly half of them – 10 persons were certified. Beyond this stage 8 persons were enrolled into the cosmonaut corps. The procedure of psychological selection included interviewing, testing, and participation of psychologists in other types of selection, such as: the evaluation of the physical and educational levels of the applicants. When evaluating the physical fitness of applicants the attention was paid to such professionally significant capabilities as an endurance, strength, quickness, dexterity as well as to the evaluation of the prospects of onboard training to prevent harmful effects of space flight factors. The procedure of selection was focused on the requirements for education and professional competence included: discussion by the committee of experts of all selected persons and their testing in 11 various disciplines. A part of the disciplines (of technical and human profile) allowed to evaluate educational level, some other - professional competence of applicants. The medical examination was carried out in accordance with the adopted norms, and included various laboratory, radiological, electrophysiological and functional studies (centrifuge, pressure chamber), and also checkup by clinical specialists. The results of cosmonaut selection are analyzed on the basis of statistical data.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
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