Interesting facts about astronaut training. The most interesting facts

Interesting Facts about space, as a rule, attract a lot of readers around the world. The secrets and mysteries of the Universe cannot but excite our imagination. What is hiding there, high, high in the sky? Is there life on other planets? How long does it take to get to a neighboring galaxy?

Agree, everyone wants to get answers to these questions, regardless of age, gender or, say, social status. This article will tell you about the most interesting facts about space and astronauts. Readers will learn a lot of new things about what they had no idea about before.

Section 1. The tenth planet of the solar system

In 2003, another tenth planet orbiting the Sun was discovered behind Pluto. She was named Eris. This became possible thanks to the development modern technologies, several decades ago, scientists did not know about such interesting facts about space and planets. Later, it was also possible to determine that beyond Pluto there are other natural ones, which, according to the decision of specialists, together with Pluto and Eris, began to be called transplutonian.

The interest of scientists in newly discovered planets is determined not only by the desire for space in close proximity (by cosmic standards) to planet Earth. It is very important to determine whether the new planet can accommodate people if necessary. It is also important to assess what dangers a new object poses for the continuation of life on Earth.

Some space researchers believe that interesting facts about space in general and studying the features of the tenth planet in particular can help in solving mysteries associated with unidentified flying objects, the presence of earth's surface grandiose structures, as well as giant crop circles that have not found a real explanation.

Section 2. Mysterious companion Moon

Does the Moon, so familiar to all earthlings, really hold many secrets? Indeed, the most interesting facts about space indicate that the satellite of planet Earth is fraught with many mysterious things. We list just some questions for which there are no answers yet.

  • Why does the moon have such big sizes? There are no other natural satellites in the Solar System comparable in size to the Moon - it is only 4 times smaller than our home planet!
  • How can we explain the fact that the diameter of the Moon’s disk during total eclipse perfectly covers the solar disk?
  • Why does the Moon rotate in an almost perfect circular orbit? This is very difficult to explain, especially if you keep in mind that the orbits of all other natural satellites known to science are ellipses.

Section 3. Where is the Earth's twin located?

Scientists claim that the Earth has a twin. It turns out that Titan, which is a satellite of Saturn, is very similar to our home planet. Titan has seas, volcanoes and a dense layer of air! Nitrogen in Titan's atmosphere is exactly the same percentage as on Earth - 75%! This is an amazing similarity that undoubtedly requires a scientific explanation.

Section 4. The Mystery of the Red Planet

The red planet of the solar system, as is known, is called Mars. Conditions suitable for life - the composition of the atmosphere, the possibility of the presence of bodies of water, temperature - all this indicates that the search for living beings on this planet, at least in a primitive form, is not promising.

It has even been scientifically confirmed that there are lichens and mosses on Mars. This means that the simplest forms of complex organisms exist on this celestial body. However, it is very difficult to advance in its study. Perhaps the main problematic factor is the large natural obstacle to direct study of this planet - astronaut flights are still very limited due to imperfect technology.

Section 5. Why flights to the Moon stopped

Many interesting facts about space flights are related to our natural satellite. Americans landed on the Moon, Russian and Eastern specialists are exploring it. However, mysteries still remain.

After a successful flight to the Moon and landing on its surface (if, of course, these facts really took place!) the study program natural satellite was practically collapsed. This turn of events is puzzling. Really, what's the matter?

Perhaps some understanding of this problem comes if we take into account the statement of the American who visited the Moon, that it is already occupied by a form of life in the fight against which humanity has no chance to survive. Unfortunately, the general public knows virtually nothing about what scientists actually know.

Despite the fact that flights of spaceships with astronauts to the Moon have ceased, the secrets of this extraordinary satellite invariably attract the attention of researchers on Earth. The unknown has attractive force, especially if the object is in close proximity, by cosmic standards.

Section 6. Space toilet

Creating life support systems that function effectively in zero gravity conditions is a very difficult task. The sewage system must operate uninterruptedly, ensuring the storage of biowaste and its timely unloading as usual.

When the ship is launched and goes into space, there is nothing left to do but use special diapers. These means provide temporary, but very noticeable comfort.

Interesting facts about the first manned flight into space indicate that initially great importance was attached to the creation of plumbing fixtures for astronauts. great importance. Particular attention was paid to the individual anatomical characteristics of the crew members. Currently, the approach to equipping the sanitary zone of a spacecraft has become more universal.

Section 7. Superstitions on board

It should be noted that interesting facts about space and astronauts cannot but affect such everyday aspects of ordinary life as, for example, traditions and beliefs.

Many people note that astronauts are very superstitious people. This statement will cause confusion for many. Is this really true? In fact, astronauts behave in such a way that it seems as if they are very suspicious people. Be sure to take a sprig of wormwood on the flight, the smell of which reminds you of native Earth. When Russian spaceships take off, they always play the song “Earth in the Porthole.”

Sergei Korolev did not like launches on Monday and even postponed the launch to another date, despite conflicts on this matter. He did not give clear explanations to anyone. When the astronauts finally began to take off on Monday, by a fatal coincidence, a number of accidents occurred (!).

October 24 is a special date associated with the tragic events at Baikonur (the explosion of a ballistic missile in 1960), therefore, as a rule, no work is carried out at the cosmodrome on this day.

Section 8. Unknown interesting facts about space and Russian cosmonautics

The history of the development of Russian cosmonautics is a bright series of events. It is wonderful that scientists, designers and engineers managed to achieve success. But, unfortunately, there were also tragedies. Space exploration is an extremely complex field that involves working in extreme conditions.

For those who value the history of space exploration very much, information is valuable both about significant achievements in the development of the space industry and about seemingly small and even valueless facts.

  • How many people know that the monument to Yuri Gagarin in Star City has one interesting feature- V right hand the first cosmonaut caught a daisy?
  • Surprisingly, the first living creatures to travel to space trip, there were turtles, and not dogs at all, as is commonly believed.
  • To mislead the enemy, in the 50s of the 20th century, 2 cosmodromes were built - a wooden imitation and a real structure, the distance between which was 300 km.

Section 9. Fun discoveries and interesting facts about space for children and adults

Discoveries in the space industry that become public are sometimes of a humorous nature, despite their real scientific value.

  • Saturn is a very light planet. If you imagine that you can conduct an experiment with its immersion in water, you will be able to observe how this amazing planet will float on the surface.
  • The size of Jupiter is such that inside this planet you can “place” all the planets that rotate in their orbits around the Sun.
  • A little-known fact - the first star catalog was compiled by the scientist Hipparchus in 150 BC, very far from us.
  • Since 1980, “Lunar Embassy” has been selling areas of the lunar surface - to date, 7% of the lunar surface has already been sold (!).
  • To invent a fountain pen that could be used to write in zero gravity, American researchers spent millions of dollars (Russian cosmonauts use a pencil to write in spacecraft during flight, and no problems arise).

10. NASA's most unusual statements

At the NASA center, one could repeatedly hear statements that were perceived as unusual and surprising.

  • Outside the conditions of Earth's gravity, astronauts suffer from "space sickness", the symptoms of which are pain and nausea due to distorted functioning of the inner ear.
  • The fluid in the astronaut’s body tends to the head, so the nose becomes clogged and the face becomes puffy.
  • A person's height in space becomes greater as the pressure on the spine decreases.
  • A person snoring in earthly conditions in conditions of weightlessness in his sleep does not make any sounds!

There, on the ISS, everything is different from on Earth. Of course, the people are the same, the planet that is visible from the window is also ours, dear.

But the conditions of being in outer space, in conditions of complete weightlessness, completely change the life of astronauts. This article lists the most interesting facts from the life of people in space.

1. You can see 16 sunrises in one day

Yes, in low orbit the Sun rises and sets every hour and a half, so it is almost impossible to sleep during such a cycle.

In order to improve the life of the ISS crew, a conventional 24-hour system was created, based on the so-called “mean” Greenwich Time. This is a time zone lying somewhere halfway between Moscow and Houston.

By the way, the astronauts get up when the bell rings, a signal that is sent from the MCC to the ISS. Sound signal- a melody that is chosen either by the astronaut himself or his family.

2. From space you can see stunning views of the Earth and reverse side Moon

From space, astronauts observe what can never be seen on Earth: the Earth - a blue disk on a black background, the far side of the Moon, as well as strange flashes of light in the eyes.

It turns out that this is not light at all, but cosmic radiation, which is perceived by the brain as a flash. Such flashes are very harmful to the eyes, and many astronauts subsequently have vision problems.

3. “There” you become taller

That's right, due to the lack of gravity of the Earth, the spine lengthens a little, and you become taller by about 5-8 centimeters.

Unfortunately, this is not very good, and such “growth” is accompanied by various complications. For example, your back may hurt or a nerve may be pinched. Things happen.

4. Astronauts don't snore


A person who snored on Earth will not snore in space. This is because it is the force of gravity that causes snoring. Only isolated cases of snoring among sleeping astronauts have been reported in space.

By the way, some other sleep abnormalities also disappear in conditions of weightlessness. Astronauts in space suffer from constipation.

5. Salt and pepper have to be mixed with water

Of course, astronauts have seasonings in liquid form. How do you imagine salting or peppering food in zero gravity?

Therefore, it is necessary to create various liquid seasonings that improve the taste of foods from the astronauts’ diet. Otherwise, using seasonings would be a big problem.

6. Longest period of stay in space - 438 days

Russian cosmonaut Valery Polyakov spent the longest time in space. He stayed on board space station"Peace" 438 days (that's 14 months). His mission ended in 1995.

According to data up to 2004, out of 439 astronauts, 11 died during training, 18 during accidents during launch, and only 3 people - the Soyuz-11 crew - died directly in space.

Georgy Dobrovolsky, Viktor Patsayev and Vladislav Volkov died from the depressurization of the ship, which occurred as a result of module separation in 1971.

7. Almost every astronaut suffers from space sickness

Yes, this happens too. During the first days in weightlessness, many astronauts experience all the unpleasant sensations associated with the manifestation of space sickness.

This “disease” manifests itself in loss of orientation, in the fact that a person ceases to feel the position of his arms and legs. Some people even feel upside down all the time.

According to statistics, every second cosmonaut experienced unpleasant sensations associated with the manifestation of “space adaptation syndrome.” Yes, there is such a name. But everything becomes fine after a few days - the unpleasant sensations go away.

8. On Earth, astronauts have a hard time adjusting to gravity.

Upon returning to Earth, people have to re-adapt to our conditions. Astronauts especially suffer because they can’t get used to things falling.

They have already learned that objects float freely in the air, and subconsciously continue to expect the same on Earth.

This is how it turns out that an astronaut can try to leave a cup in the air, forgetting that it is about to fall and break.

9. There is special hygiene in space

It is impossible to take a bath in space; wet sponges and napkins are used for hygiene. It is also problematic to brush your teeth; you just have to swallow the foam from the toothpaste.

Planet Earth is considered the most beautiful in the entire Galaxy. Few people are destined to look at its expanses from above. In this article we will tell you unusual and interesting facts about astronauts - people who succeeded.

  • 1. “Traveling” through space, it is difficult for a person to get used to the established day and night routine. Therefore, astronauts wake up to a signal (melody) that they select themselves.
  • 2. Many astronauts experience back complications during flights, accompanied by pain and pinched nerves. The thing is that in conditions without gravity, the human spine relaxes and stretches. Therefore, astronauts literally grow by 5-8 centimeters.
  • 3. It is impossible to hear human snoring in space. Due to environmental conditions, astronauts do not snore. Science knows only isolated cases of this phenomenon.
  • 4. To improve the taste of food in space, astronauts add salt and pepper diluted in water to their dishes. Otherwise, how can you add salt and pepper in zero gravity?


  • 5. Cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev stayed in orbit the longest - 803 days.
  • 6. Space sickness or space adaptation syndrome occurs in every second astronaut. This illness lasts several days and manifests itself in the form of loss of sensation of one’s own limbs and orientation.


  • 7. Interesting facts about astronauts also concern superstitions associated with this profession. So, for example, Sergei Korolev was very cautious about launches on Mondays, so he postponed the date.
  • 8. During flights, astronauts often notice inexplicable flashes of light. It turns out that this is radiation that the human brain perceives as flashes. They are very harmful to the eyes, so upon arrival on Earth, astronauts may experience vision-related problems.


  • 9. The countdown for the rocket launch was borrowed from filmmakers. To increase audience tension, this is exactly the technique that was used in the 1929 film “The Woman on the Moon.”
  • 10.The first two-time tourist in space is Charles Simonyi. Its flights occurred in 2007 and 2009. But after the wedding, such entertainment became unavailable to him. Simoni's marriage contract stipulates a ban on a third visit to space.


  • 11. Apollo 11 crew members were forced to go through customs after returning from the Moon. The form was written down: the place of departure was the Moon, the cargo was lunar dust and stones.
  • 12. The number 13 also played a role in astronautics. It was Apollo 13, of all the American spacecraft that flew to the Moon, that crashed on April 13.


  • 13. From the windows of their ship, astronauts can distinguish the Egyptian Pyramids, large airports, and cities on Earth. But the Great Chinese wall, contrary to popular belief, it is not visible from space.

"collected 26 amazing facts about astronautics that you most likely did not know.

1. The fathers of modern cosmonautics - the “enemy of the people” and the SS man.

Wernher von Braun is a German and, since the late 1940s, American designer of rocket and space technology. In the USA he is considered the “father” of American space program. He surrendered to American forces in Germany in 1945, after which he began working for the United States. In Nazi Germany he was a member of the National Socialist Party and a Sturmbannführer of the SS.

Sergei Korolev is a Soviet scientist, designer, main organizer of the production of rocket and space technology and rocket weapons of the USSR and the founder of practical cosmonautics.

In 1938 he was arrested on charges of sabotage. According to some reports, he was tortured - both jaws were broken. On September 27, 1938, Korolev was sentenced by the Military Collegium of the Supreme Court of the USSR to 10 years in labor camps and 5 years of loss of rights. In 1940, the term was reduced to 8 years in the ITL (Sevzheldorlag), and in 1944 Korolev was released. The father of Russian cosmonautics was completely rehabilitated only in 1957.

2. Chinese cosmonautics was also created by a “repressed man.”

The father of Chinese astronautics, Qian Xuesen, received higher education in the USA and returned to his homeland only because of the “witch hunt” that unfolded in American society and subsequent disgrace.

3. The first monument to manned astronautics.

At the landing site of Yuri Gagarin near the village of Smelovka in Saratov region On April 12, 1961, the arriving military installed a sign. More precisely, they dug in a pillar with a sign that said: “Do not touch! 04/12/61 10:55 Moscow time time."

Astronauts have many rituals necessary for a successful launch into space and return to Earth. In particular, they must pee on the wheel of the bus taking them to the launch site.

It is believed that the founder of the tradition was Yuri Gagarin, who asked to stop the car in the Kazakh steppe on the way to Baikonur. By the way, female astronauts also honor this tradition - they take with them a jar of urine, which they throw onto the wheel.

5. Why do astronauts watch “ White sun desert" before the flight.

Soviet and Russian cosmonauts have another interesting tradition - before departure they watch the film “White Sun of the Desert”. It turns out that this tradition has a logical basis. It was this movie that was shown to the astronauts as a standard of camera work - using its example, they were explained how to work with the camera correctly and build a plan.

Another version: after the death of three cosmonauts of the Soyuz-11 spacecraft, the crew of Soyuz-12 was reduced to two people. Before the launch, they watched the film “White Sun of the Desert,” and after a successful mission they said that Comrade Sukhov became an invisible third crew member and helped them in difficult moments. Since then, watching this tape has become a tradition for all Soviet and then Russian cosmonauts. By the way, astronauts from other countries are also forced to watch this film before launching from Baikonur.

6. Gagarin’s shoelace could not be untied.

Newsreels captured Yuri Gagarin's meeting after the first space flight in Moscow, and most of all, many people remember his untied shoelace.

In fact, it was not a lace, but a sock suspender. Previously, socks were made without elastic bands and suspenders were worn on the calves to prevent the socks from slipping down. This rubber band came loose on one of Gagarin’s legs, and the iron buckle hit him very painfully on the leg. Nikita Khrushchev's son Sergei spoke about this in an interview with the BBC.

7. On the 12th century cathedral there is a figure of an astronaut.

In carving cathedral In the Spanish city of Salamanca, built in the 12th century, you can find the figure of an astronaut in a spacesuit. There is no mysticism here: the figure was added in 1992 during restoration by one of the masters as a signature. He chose the astronaut as a symbol of the twentieth century.

8. An American woman has been waiting for a flight into space for 22 years.

Barbara Morgan was selected to participate in NASA's Teacher in Space program in 1985, but did not make her first space flight until 2007.

9. People don’t snore in space.

In 2001, an experiment was conducted that showed that snorers on Earth do not snore in space.

If you cry in space, tears will remain in your eyes and face.

Georgy Ivanov (Kakalov)

The names of cosmonauts, which seemed dissonant to the Soviet authorities, were changed. The first Bulgarian cosmonaut Georgiy Kakalov had to become Ivanov, and the Pole Hermashevsky - Germashevsky. The understudy of the Mongolian cosmonaut Zhugderdemidiin Gurragcha initially bore the surname Gankhuyag, but at the insistence of the Soviet side he changed it to Ganzorig.

12. There is a monument on the Moon.

The only monument on the Moon is the Fallen Astronaut. This is an aluminum sculpture depicting an astronaut in a spacesuit lying prone. The figurine is located in the Hadley-Apennines region on the Moon, at the landing site of the crew of the Apollo 15 spacecraft on the southeastern edge of the Mare Mons. Installed on August 1, 1971 by Apollo 15 commander David Scott.

Next to it, a plaque is stuck into the ground, perpetuating the names of eight US astronauts and six USSR cosmonauts who had died or died by that time. The author of the sculpture is the Belgian artist and engraver Paul van Heijdonk. Since then and to this day, “Fallen Astronaut” remains the only art installation on the Moon.

13. Some people even took their wives into space.

American astronauts Jen Davis and Mark Lee are so far the only married couple to fly into space together. They were part of the crew space shuttle Endeavor, which flew in September 1992.

14. People in space grow 5 cm.

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly (pictured), who returned to Earth from the ISS in early March 2016, was found to have grown by more than five centimeters in the 340 days he spent in space.

But not only Kelly, but in general all people in zero gravity grow by about three to five centimeters. On Earth, gravity puts pressure on the spine, but in space this does not happen, and it straightens out to its full length. A person aboard the ISS typically grows by three percent.

15. The wife does not let her husband into space.

Charles Simonyi became the first two-time space tourist, flying to the ISS in 2007 and 2009. He recently got married, and his marriage contract, among other things, contains a ban on flying into space a third time.

16. Astronauts learn to go to the space toilet on Earth. Because it's difficult.

To use the space toilet, you need to sit on it exactly in the center. Correct technique is practiced on a special mock-up with a camera.

17. Instead of the dog Laika, they proposed sending little blacks into space?

The book “The Third Side of the Dollar” by A. Laurinciukas, a correspondent for the newspaper “Rural Life” in the USA, published in 1968, tells the following story.

“The dog Laika was sent into space, knowing in advance that she would die. After this, the UN received a letter from a group of women from Mississippi. They demanded to condemn the inhumane treatment of dogs in the USSR and put forward a proposal: if for the development of science it is necessary to send living beings into space, in our city there are as many black children as possible for this purpose.”

The story is most likely a propaganda fabrication, but it is still widely quoted as common knowledge, usually without reference to the journalist's book, Country Life.

18. You can’t take a bath in space.

It is impossible to take a bath in space; wet sponges and napkins are used for hygiene. It is also problematic to brush your teeth - you just have to swallow the foam from the toothpaste.

19. A Russian got married while in space.

Cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko, shortly before his flight to the ISS in 2003, proposed to an American of Russian origin, Ekaterina Dmitrieva, whose mother worked at NASA.

While at the station, he received notification from Mission Control that his mission was being extended for several months. The newlyweds decided not to wait for the groom to return and had a wedding, looking at each other through monitors. Roscosmos did not approve of such an act, since Malenchenko, who had access to state secrets, had to obtain permission to marry a citizen of another state in the prescribed manner on Earth, but subsequently he participated in space expeditions more than once.

20. The countdown was invented by filmmakers.

The countdown that invariably accompanies the launch space rockets, was invented not by scientists or astronauts, but by filmmakers. The countdown was first used in the 1929 German film Woman in the Moon to build tension. Subsequently, when launching real rockets, the designers simply adopted this technique.

21. There is a bell on the ISS.

There is a bell on the International Space Station. They hit him every time there is a change of commander.

22. The first Belgian astronaut received a noble title.

Dirk Freemouth, 51, made his only flight into space from March 24 to April 2, 1992, aboard the space shuttle Atlantis (STS-45) as one of two payload specialists. After completing his space flight, Freemouth was granted the title of Viscount.

Portraits of Soviet cosmonautics pioneers were placed on the walls of the first Soviet space station, Mir, and later on the ISS.

After some time, the portraits of Gagarin and Korolev, according to this photo, were either moved to another place or removed altogether. Apparently there was not enough space for icons.

24. The most expensive hyphen in history cost $135 million.

In 1962, the Americans launched the first spacecraft to study Venus, Mariner 1, which crashed a few minutes after launch. First, the antenna on the device, which received a signal from the guidance system from the Earth, failed, after which the on-board computer took over control.

He, too, was unable to correct the deviation from the course, since the program loaded into it contained a single error - when transferring the instructions into the code for punched cards, a dash above a letter was missed in one of the equations, the absence of which radically changed the mathematical meaning of the equation. Journalists soon dubbed this dash “the most expensive hyphen in history.” In today's terms, the cost of the lost device is $135 million.

25. Hero Soviet Union, the only Syrian astronaut is an opponent of Assad.

The first and only Syrian cosmonaut, Mohammed Ahmed Faris, completed an eight-day flight on the Soyuz spacecraft in 1987.

On August 4, 2012, the Hero of the Soviet Union fled to Turkey and joined the opposition, supporting the Free Syrian Army waging war against President Bashar al-Assad. In February 2016, he accused Russia of killing 2 thousand Syrian civilians.

One of his sons is named Mir after the Soviet orbital station.

26. The size names for space urinals had to be changed.

American astronauts on spaceships series "Apollo" relieved minor need in containers, putting them on like condoms. These products were different sizes, originally named "small", "medium" and "large". However, after the astronauts, regardless of their anatomy, chose only big size, the labeling was changed to "big", "giant" and "incredible".

Despite their responsible and dangerous work, aviators and astronauts are ordinary people with their own fears and superstitions. Some of these superstitions turn into amazing fact, which we want to tell you about so that you will be surprised and smile.

1. For example, astronauts have a custom of taking a wormwood branch with them on a flight, which reminds them of home. In addition, before the launch of a rocket, the song “Earth in the Porthole” is always played. Starts on Mondays are not welcome, so the great designer Sergei Korolev moved them to other days of the week, even when he had to go against the top ranks. No work is carried out at the cosmodrome on October 24, since on this day in 1960 a ballistic missile exploded at Baikonur.

2. Weightlessness is not only dangerous, but also has an unusual effect on the health of astronauts. In particular, the length of the body becomes greater, due to the fact that in zero gravity the load on the spine decreases. The fluid in the body rushes to the head, causing swelling of the face and swelling of the nose. Snoring in zero gravity becomes inaudible. Due to disruption of the normal functioning of the inner ear, astronauts experience dizziness and pain.

3. An interesting fact is that not only dogs have been in space, as many believe, but turtles, monkeys, cats... They have also been launched into space Guinea pigs, rats, mice, quails, newts, frogs, snails and some types of fish.

4. The monument to Yuri Gagarin, installed in Star City, has an unusual feature. In the hand of the first Russian cosmonaut, which he hides behind his back, is a chamomile.

At the same time, he hides the chamomile, as if intriguing - what’s there!? You won't see it until you walk around the monument!

5. By the way, it was possible to achieve flowers blooming in space for the first time only on January 17, 2016. When the aster zinnia flower first bloomed on the International Space Station. We present to your attention a photo of this flower taken by American NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who was on board the station.

6. Space exploration does not stand still. More recently, since 2005, a truly historic discovery has been made. The tenth planet was discovered solar system, which was named Eris. It is located behind Pluto and revolves around the Sun. The study of its features and the nature of the surface is yet to come. Other natural cosmic bodies have been discovered beyond Pluto. The constant study and discovery of new planets is associated with the ongoing search for a place where people could move in case of danger.