With unique photographs, first-hand interviews and previously untapped historical resources, an expert team of space-historians, for the very first time, how Russian citizens have been selected and trained to fly in space as well as how these procedures have changed during the past 40 years. The authors also describe the evolution of the often overlooked ground support infrastructure and how the role of cosmonauts has changed from the very earliest days of the Gagarin era, through the demise of the Soviet Union, to the era of international co-operation and collaboration on program such as the International Space Station. Therefore, Russia's Cosmonauts provides much needed background information and insight into the operational Soviet/Russian manned space program; revealing information and facts not covered elsewhere, and providing a unique reference source for all those who wish to understand the changing role of Russian cosmonauts in today's global space enterprise.

There is no competition since this is the first book in the English language on cosmonaut selection and training Offers a unique and original discussion on how Russia prepares its cosmonauts for spaceflight Contains original interviews and photographs with first-hand information obtained by the authors on visits to Star City Provides an insight to the role of cosmonauts in the global space programme of the future Reviews the training both of Russian cosmonauts in other countries and of foreign cosmonauts in Star City

Zusammenfassung
Offers a discussion on how Russia prepares its cosmonauts for spaceflight. This title contains interviews and photographs with information obtained by the authors on visits to Star City.

Inhalt
The Cosmonaut Training Centre: birth and growth.- Simulators.- Other national and international facilities.- Survival training.- The Cosmonaut Group of the RGNII TsPK.- The Cosmonaut group of RKK Energiya.- Other Soviet and Russian cosmonaut selections.- Cosmonauts selected to fly the Buran Shuttle.- International training.- Joint programmes.- Zvyozdnyy Gorodok the town.