The purpose of the PFST is practical honing of skills for performing flight operations and interaction of the space flight participant with the members of their crews while performing the program of the planned flight.
Main objectives of the PFST:
Objectives of pilot training:
- studying the on-board flight documentation for every MSC to be piloted specified in the flight program and familiarization with the locations of the spaceborne equipment, consoles and instruments;
- honing the skills of performing the tasks of operating the orbital (suborbital) spaceship in a normal autonomous flight and in case of occurrence of off-optimum situations;
- honing the skills of operating a piloted transporting space craft during all the stages of rendezvous, flyby, final approach and docking the orbital complex or other (manned or unmanned) spacecrafts including those on the shadow side of the orbit and in case of a discontinued radio communication with the Flight Control Center, as well as in case of assumed off-optimum situations.
- honing the skills of operating a transporting rescue ship when performing undocking from the orbital complex, drifting apart and descending from the orbit in any assumed conditions of light and radio-sighting of the earth-based Flight Control Center, including in case of occurrence of any assumed off-optimum situations;
- honing the skills of performing the tasks of controlling the orbital complex in automatic, semiautomatic and manual modes of operation of the control systems for propulsion, orientation, communication, television, air locking, refueling, energy consumption, and the crew life support at the orbital complex;
- honing the skills of tele-operation (from the board of the orbital complex) of a transporting freight ship (TFS) of the Progress type at all stages of rendezvous, flyby, final approach, docking and undocking from the orbital complex;
- preparing for the operation of the spaceborne systems of the manned spacecraft.
General tasks of pilot and participant training:
- practicing interaction with the crew members;
- preparing for establishing and maintaining communication with the crew members and the Flight Control Center, conducting television reportages, photographing and video filming in the process of performing the flight;
- preparing for performing scientific and technological experiments;
- preparing for conducting visual observations, photographing and video filming envisaged by the flight program;
- practicing the skills of maintaining own life;
- practicing the habits and skills of exit into the open space;
- preparing the astronaut's body to the effect of space flight factors, honing the skills of operating the spaceborne medical facilities, rendering self and mutual aid;
- practicing actions of urgent escape from the orbital complex in emergency situations (fire, unpressurizing, atmosphere toxicity);
- training in establishing interconnection between the scientific equipment and the spaceborne systems of the MSC;
- preparing for reception, stowage and shipment of cargoes, and for freight turnover between the MSC and the Earth;
- preparing for actions after landing in various climate and geographical zones of the Earth and in different weather conditions.
Sections of the PFST:
- theoretical training;
- trainings on simulators and practical training;
- biomedical training;
- flights for zero-gravity;
- training on the scientific program;
- certification arrangements.
The PSFT is conducted in accordance with individual schedules. The training duration depends on the intended flight program and lasts (as required for a flight on a spaceship of the Soyuz type and an orbital complex of the MKS type) 8 to 16 weeks.
On completion of the PSFT course, certification testing of the student is conducted. For this purpose, he/she (in accordance with his/her specialization) is enrolled on the crew that participates in a simulation of a full-value autonomous "space flight" in earth conditions. The deployment of corresponding simulators enables to conduct a real-time end-to-end modeling of an orbital flight of a manned spaceship of the Soyuz type. The "flight" lasts for about 3 hours and includes ascent, orbital maneuvering, establishing the necessary orientation in relation to the Earth and the Sun, orbital complex rendezvous, descent from the orbit and landing on the Earth. During the "flight", the participant has to act in off-optimum situations whose contents and time of occurrence he/she does not know beforehand. On "flight" completion, the final certification of the student is conducted that entitles him/her for performing an actual space flight.
