Stages of development of selection and cosmonaut training system (СОПК)

Stages of development are caused by a significant complication of manned space programs and are connected with fundamental change of its scientific and methodological basis:

Stage 1: 1961 - 1971

is connected with autonomous flight of transport ships such as “Vostok», «Voskhod» and the first Soyuz» up to 4 days;

Stage 2: 1971 - 1977

is connected to the flights at the stations "Salute" - "Salute-5" up to 60 days;

Stage 3: 1977 - present

is associated with long flights on long-term stations "Salute-6", "Salute-7", "Mir," "ISS" lasting an average about 200 days.

1In the first phase it was necessary to form the foundation of scientific-methods base for cosmonaut training. It was created by experts who had come to the Center from scientific research and test institutions, primarily from military research institutes, academies and Air Force medical service. At this stage a cosmonaut’s function in control of a spacecraft, especially «Vostok» and «Voskhod», was limited. Therefore, medical aspects dominated in the cosmonaut training. Only with the advent in 1967 of «Soyuz», which provided greater control on the part of crew, engineering and technical aspects of cosmonaut training were developed. Technical and simulator training of cosmonauts were directed to the formation of stable skills in spacecraft control and formed by multiple working out of all flight operations on simulators.

2 The second stage is connected with flights to orbital stations, beginning with the first station «Salute» and even «Salute-5», included. At this stage, together with the increasing complexity of crews’ MSV activity, the requirements for engineering and technical training of cosmonauts increased significantly as well. The crews, consisting of two cosmonauts had to learn not only to control the transport vehicle «Soyuz», but also the station «Salute». There were new advanced features of a crew connected with long flights aboard the station. Ground training cosmonaut program for space flights at this stage became more complex. It took the diversification of types of training and their integration into a single program. Scientific and methodological basis of the cosmonaut training was further developed through the synthesis of a large experience in preparing and executing missions. However, at this stage methods of formation of skills to perform a limited number of flight operations also prevailed.

3 The third stage of development of selection and cosmonaut training system is connected with the complexity of cosmonauts’ activity during the implementation of long-duration flights on long-term stations «Salute-6», «Salute-7», «Mir» and «ISS». At this stage there appeared a new type of transport vehicle «Soyuz-T» (1980), controlled by onboard digital computer, what led to a fundamental change of technology for its crews. Along with the increasing of complexity of transport vehicles and orbital stations, duration of space flights sharply increased and amounted to 200 days. At the same time load on a crew - physical, emotional, and informational - repeatedly increased. All this required further development of scientific and methodological base for cosmonaut training for space flights, the development of methods for cosmonauts’ post-flight rehabilitation. With the start of construction, assembly and operation of the ISS, with the active participation of international crews, to the purely technical disciplines that previously had not been presented in the cosmonaut training there were evolved some new additional items. For example, those were such new skills and knowledge, as the rules of intercultural interaction during spaceflights, the basics of business international intercourse and others.