Russian Cosmonaut Training Center to unveil training programs for specialists involved in flights to Moon and Mars, TASS reports with reference to the head of the center Yuri Lonchakov.
“The concept for development of manned space flights has already been elaborated; it includes flights to Moon and Mars as well as creation of Moon bases. That is why the Cosmonaut Training Center is elaborating documents related to the concept for development of manned space flights; I think you’re going to hear about that soon,” Lonchakov said speaking of plans for introducing new training programs at the center.
Lonchakov added that the crew of 43/44 ISS mission saw Soyuz TMA-16M manned spacecraft for the first time on March 15th.
“Their exam lasted about five or six hours; after that the crew had three days off and departed to Baikonur on March 14th. The first test of Soyuz TMA-16M spacecraft was scheduled for March 15th. A very tough schedule,” Lonchakov said after the astronauts started their pre-flight exams in the Star City.
The first crew comprises Gennady Padalka and Mikhail Kornienko (Russia) as well as Scott Kelly (USA). They are going to depart to ISS on March 27th 2015.
It is planned that Kornienko and Kelly will stay at the station for one year. Padalka will return to Earth after six months, but this flight will help him set a record in terms of total time spent in the orbit (around 900 days).
