Star City: Gagarin Research & Test Cosmonaut Center is Worthy of Visit

Russian space engineer Alexander N. Belyaev, an experienced member of the cosmonaut training and preparation team at the Gagarin Research & Test Cosmonaut Center, last week provided a tour of the facility at Star City, Russia. Belyaev trained many Russian and international cosmonauts, American astronauts and private spaceflight participants prior to his retirement.

Upon entry to the buring peat bog smogged-filled Star City facility, the tour commenced with the 18metre long centrifuge arm which rotates inside a specially constructed room to simulate the forces experienced during space flight. Inside this spinning machine the cosmonauts must be able to function under extreme forces reaching up to 8g (g-force) for 40 seconds, by comparison formula one drivers experience a 2g while accelerating and a 5g while braking.

Belyaev continued the tour with extended time at the Russian natural buoyancy laboratory where two cosmonauts were in active spacewalk training. The time with Belyaev was instructive and very insightful as to the cosmonaut training regime at the gateway to space in Star City.

Photos by Jack Kennedy at Star City.