The Space Audit Workshop opens new horizons for students and professionals from different fields who are eager to test themselves in various conditions. Within the framework of the event, participants can face various non-standard situations, which allows them not only to test their strengths, but also to receive valuable feedback from experienced experts.
Space exploration is becoming increasingly diverse. One of the key aspects of successful training of cosmonauts is the work of specialists who ensure their psychological stability under flight conditions. In this context, the team of leading psychologists of the Laboratory of Psychological Training of Cosmonauts of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Research Test Centre of the Federal State Budgetary Institution deserves special attention. Natalia Filippova and Zhanna Shevchenko not only develop methods of psychological training, but also actively participate in the selection and training of future cosmonauts.
- Please tell us about your work.
- The most important thing about us is that we are space psychologists, working in a laboratory that was created directly with our participation in 2010. Before that, medical specialists were engaged in this area at the Cosmonaut Training Centre. Psychologists accompany an astronaut everywhere: in the process of professional preparation for the flight, during the space flight, and help in post-flight rehabilitation. During 15 years of work the laboratory participated in the training of 43 space crews.
- Where does the psychological training of astronauts begin?
- Everything starts with psychological selection for astronauts. Historically, cosmonauts were selected mainly from military pilots. Until 2012 it was a closed event, which was known to a rather narrow circle of people and organisations, it was not covered en masse. Since 2012, an open selection for cosmonauts was announced. Anyone could get in. There were a lot of people willing to join, so we had a lot of work to do. Then, after 2012, the selection conditions were tightened - now a candidate must have a technical education and relevant experience. And, of course, health criteria are very important. Candidates for cosmonauts can be both civilian and military specialists - so not only pilots, but also architects can become cosmonauts.
- Are there now architects among candidates or cosmonauts?
- No, there are no people with such education among cosmonauts, but, however, there are those who, for example, paint pictures. And also many cosmonauts from the squad make beautiful photos in space flight, show them at exhibitions.
- Do you think there is a need for space architects?
- A necessary profession for manned cosmonautics. It is a profession of the future, because it will definitely be in demand when large stations, already interplanetary ones, will be built. And here, of course, an architect's mind will be required. Now the stations are oriented on the technical arrangement of our equipment so that it could fit in and everything would work and be comfortable. But then, when a person goes on a long-distance flight, it will be necessary to organise the space in such a way that it becomes home, does not bring stress, does not irritate, that it is familiar to the eye and pleasant to use.
- And I guess if there's more tourism, right?
- Yes, that's right. And we know about architects - these are the people who really organise space in such a way that it is comfortable for the eye and that volumes and proportions are respected. Soon this will definitely be in demand. So we can say that in the near future we, as space psychologists, will have to train architects as well.
- In the selection process, what does age matter?
- A person up to 35 years old can become a cosmonaut candidate, as the preparation for a flight is long, 7-10 years on average, sometimes even longer.
- And how many people apply for selection as cosmonauts?
- Usually the Cosmonaut Training Centre receives 250-400 applications for selection. Out of this number, we usually select only 4-6 people who get into training. By the way, we have people drawing at the selection. We often look at and determine the architecture of personality through drawings. We also scrutinise a person's handwriting and the way they present information, because this is also important.
- Regarding the workshop ‘Cosmic Auditor’. If you know, the programme will create various stressful situations, such as a meteor shower or if an astronaut goes mad, there are many things. So you also somehow prepare people who go into space?
- Obligatory. To make sure that everything goes smoothly in space, that no one gets sick and certainly does not go crazy, the selected candidates for cosmonauts undergo a surdochamber study. The conditions are strict - 64 hours can not sleep, while it is necessary to perform tasks that are scheduled by the minute. If the study is not passed - a person is dropped out of the cosmonaut squad. Since the professional selection for cosmonauts is quite strict, the selected candidates pass this sleep test well.
- I would like to know in detail about stressful situations. Because that is what you are mainly tasked with for training, isn't it? Naturally, it must be stressful for many astronauts to fly into space, isn't it?
- Developing the stress resistance of astronauts is an important task. An astronaut in flight faces a huge number of stress factors: high risk for life, huge responsibility, monotonous work in a confined space, the need to make lightning-fast decisions. Training on a centrifuge, in a hydraulic laboratory, parachute jumps, survival in different difficult climatic and geographical conditions - all this develops stress resistance.
- Very interesting activities you have. Within the framework of the workshop ‘Space Inspector’ for students, architects, designers, what kind of tests can you offer?
- We can hold an improvised selection for your teams.
- Can you be a jury member and evaluate from a psychological point of view, for example, a meteor shower situation? What will you monitor in such a case?
- Here we will observe what skills a person will show in an extreme situation.
- I mean, how can he show himself? Can he cry, get upset, get scared?
- Alternatively. We're going to observe what the emotional reaction will be. It can vary. It's also important to assess the person's behaviour. Will he start saving only himself or will he work for the team. What kind of leadership qualities will he show? How will he organise, for example, the exit of the crew.
- This is the second year we have held this event. It has a more extended format. In your opinion, is this event necessary, is it useful?
- We are sure that it is useful, and we are sure that any activity where a person is placed in some other conditions gives birth to creative ideas. New neural connections are formed. We never tire of saying that a person who always learns something in new conditions, sets new goals and expands horizons, he becomes, firstly, more efficient, secondly, more emotionally stable, thirdly, a long-lived person in his profession, and in general will live a long life. This is a proven fact. Where there is novelty, where there is an opportunity to show oneself in some other way, there is always a resource for health and for the development of some creative ideas.
Let us remind you that on 24-25 April 2025 in Moscow within the framework of the International Congress of Young Architects and Designers (ICM ARCH 2025) on the basis of the Moscow Humanitarian and Technological University - Moscow Architectural and Construction Institute (MSTU-MASI) will be held workshop ‘Space Auditor: Inspection in Orbit’. The event will bring together young specialists from Russia and other countries to solve practical problems in the field of designing extraterrestrial objects. Participants will have a unique opportunity to work under the guidance of cosmonauts, scientists and leading experts of the global space industry.
Registration
Space exploration is becoming increasingly diverse. One of the key aspects of successful training of cosmonauts is the work of specialists who ensure their psychological stability under flight conditions. In this context, the team of leading psychologists of the Laboratory of Psychological Training of Cosmonauts of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Research Test Centre of the Federal State Budgetary Institution deserves special attention. Natalia Filippova and Zhanna Shevchenko not only develop methods of psychological training, but also actively participate in the selection and training of future cosmonauts.
- Please tell us about your work.
- The most important thing about us is that we are space psychologists, working in a laboratory that was created directly with our participation in 2010. Before that, medical specialists were engaged in this area at the Cosmonaut Training Centre. Psychologists accompany an astronaut everywhere: in the process of professional preparation for the flight, during the space flight, and help in post-flight rehabilitation. During 15 years of work the laboratory participated in the training of 43 space crews.
- Where does the psychological training of astronauts begin?
- Everything starts with psychological selection for astronauts. Historically, cosmonauts were selected mainly from military pilots. Until 2012 it was a closed event, which was known to a rather narrow circle of people and organisations, it was not covered en masse. Since 2012, an open selection for cosmonauts was announced. Anyone could get in. There were a lot of people willing to join, so we had a lot of work to do. Then, after 2012, the selection conditions were tightened - now a candidate must have a technical education and relevant experience. And, of course, health criteria are very important. Candidates for cosmonauts can be both civilian and military specialists - so not only pilots, but also architects can become cosmonauts.
- Are there now architects among candidates or cosmonauts?
- No, there are no people with such education among cosmonauts, but, however, there are those who, for example, paint pictures. And also many cosmonauts from the squad make beautiful photos in space flight, show them at exhibitions.
- Do you think there is a need for space architects?
- A necessary profession for manned cosmonautics. It is a profession of the future, because it will definitely be in demand when large stations, already interplanetary ones, will be built. And here, of course, an architect's mind will be required. Now the stations are oriented on the technical arrangement of our equipment so that it could fit in and everything would work and be comfortable. But then, when a person goes on a long-distance flight, it will be necessary to organise the space in such a way that it becomes home, does not bring stress, does not irritate, that it is familiar to the eye and pleasant to use.
- And I guess if there's more tourism, right?
- Yes, that's right. And we know about architects - these are the people who really organise space in such a way that it is comfortable for the eye and that volumes and proportions are respected. Soon this will definitely be in demand. So we can say that in the near future we, as space psychologists, will have to train architects as well.
- In the selection process, what does age matter?
- A person up to 35 years old can become a cosmonaut candidate, as the preparation for a flight is long, 7-10 years on average, sometimes even longer.
- And how many people apply for selection as cosmonauts?
- Usually the Cosmonaut Training Centre receives 250-400 applications for selection. Out of this number, we usually select only 4-6 people who get into training. By the way, we have people drawing at the selection. We often look at and determine the architecture of personality through drawings. We also scrutinise a person's handwriting and the way they present information, because this is also important.
- Regarding the workshop ‘Cosmic Auditor’. If you know, the programme will create various stressful situations, such as a meteor shower or if an astronaut goes mad, there are many things. So you also somehow prepare people who go into space?
- Obligatory. To make sure that everything goes smoothly in space, that no one gets sick and certainly does not go crazy, the selected candidates for cosmonauts undergo a surdochamber study. The conditions are strict - 64 hours can not sleep, while it is necessary to perform tasks that are scheduled by the minute. If the study is not passed - a person is dropped out of the cosmonaut squad. Since the professional selection for cosmonauts is quite strict, the selected candidates pass this sleep test well.
- I would like to know in detail about stressful situations. Because that is what you are mainly tasked with for training, isn't it? Naturally, it must be stressful for many astronauts to fly into space, isn't it?
- Developing the stress resistance of astronauts is an important task. An astronaut in flight faces a huge number of stress factors: high risk for life, huge responsibility, monotonous work in a confined space, the need to make lightning-fast decisions. Training on a centrifuge, in a hydraulic laboratory, parachute jumps, survival in different difficult climatic and geographical conditions - all this develops stress resistance.
- Very interesting activities you have. Within the framework of the workshop ‘Space Inspector’ for students, architects, designers, what kind of tests can you offer?
- We can hold an improvised selection for your teams.
- Can you be a jury member and evaluate from a psychological point of view, for example, a meteor shower situation? What will you monitor in such a case?
- Here we will observe what skills a person will show in an extreme situation.
- I mean, how can he show himself? Can he cry, get upset, get scared?
- Alternatively. We're going to observe what the emotional reaction will be. It can vary. It's also important to assess the person's behaviour. Will he start saving only himself or will he work for the team. What kind of leadership qualities will he show? How will he organise, for example, the exit of the crew.
- This is the second year we have held this event. It has a more extended format. In your opinion, is this event necessary, is it useful?
- We are sure that it is useful, and we are sure that any activity where a person is placed in some other conditions gives birth to creative ideas. New neural connections are formed. We never tire of saying that a person who always learns something in new conditions, sets new goals and expands horizons, he becomes, firstly, more efficient, secondly, more emotionally stable, thirdly, a long-lived person in his profession, and in general will live a long life. This is a proven fact. Where there is novelty, where there is an opportunity to show oneself in some other way, there is always a resource for health and for the development of some creative ideas.
Let us remind you that on 24-25 April 2025 in Moscow within the framework of the International Congress of Young Architects and Designers (ICM ARCH 2025) on the basis of the Moscow Humanitarian and Technological University - Moscow Architectural and Construction Institute (MSTU-MASI) will be held workshop ‘Space Auditor: Inspection in Orbit’. The event will bring together young specialists from Russia and other countries to solve practical problems in the field of designing extraterrestrial objects. Participants will have a unique opportunity to work under the guidance of cosmonauts, scientists and leading experts of the global space industry.
Registration