Next, we'll drive to Russia's Star City, home of the cosmonauts and the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center. In the last four decades, every cosmonaut since Yuri Gagarin has trained at this facility, using many of the same techniques developed to train astronauts in North America. This is were Dennis completed his medical evaluations and cosmonaut training sessions in preparation for his ISS flight. Floating in crystal clear water to simulate weightless conditions, crews acquire and master the skills required for space walk activities outside of a space station. This laboratory has also been used for synchronous operations during space walks outside Mir for real-time advice and support.
Simulators are the basic facilities the cosmonauts use to train for activity on orbit.
This is an accurate full-scale simulator of the Mir Space Station designed for control and maintenance training and preparation for upcoming flights. Lunch will be at Star City. Return to the hotel for a free evening. Baikonur is approximately 3.5 hours from Moscow. Dinner will be at the Baikonur hotel.