BelTA reported earlier that the main crew member Marina Vasilevskaya and her backup Anastasia Lenkova were chosen out of six Belarusian candidates after medical screening at the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center in December 2022.
Marina Vasilevskaya said: “Impressions from the training program are overwhelming. It allows coordinating actions and enabling smooth work. I have a very experienced commander, whom I trust, this is why everything went well.”
Anastasia Lenkova said: “Our tasks and goals are determined by the research program that has been compiled by the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and our Russian colleagues. We have plans for geophysical and microbiological experiments."
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released a video showcasing the astronaut designates chosen for India s first human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan. The video does not reveal their identities but highlights their rigorous training. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has yet to decide whether the crewed mission will consist of two or three astronauts. However, one of the chosen astronauts may participate in a NASA mission to the International Space Station (ISS) before the Gaganyaan mission.
How did the republic get involved in the space race of world powers and why are Belarusians so eager to conquer outer space? This mission is honorable and prestigious, but that is absolutely not the point. BelTA's YouTube project After the Fact: Lukashenko's Decisions looks at the facts.