Russia\u2019s space agency on Tuesday announced a recruitment drive for young would-be cosmonauts who it hopes will become the country\u2019s first on the Moon. And women are welcome, an official stressed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the first such drive for five years, Roscosmos space agency said it is looking for 6 to 8 cosmonauts who will operate a new-generation spaceship now in development and \u201cwill become the first Russians to fly to the Moon\u201d.<\/p>\n
Russia is keen to rekindle the space triumphs of the Soviet era after a series of embarrassing glitches in recent years.<\/p>\n
It has announced plans for its first manned Moon landing by 2031.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be no discrimination based on skin colour or gender,\u201d the executive director of manned programmes Sergei Krikalyov said at a news conference, quoted by RIA Novosti news agency.<\/p>\n
Applications are welcome for the next four months, said the first deputy director of Roscosmos Alexander Ivanov, cited by RIA Novosti.<\/p>\n
Ivanov said the new recruits will pilot the first launches of the new-generation Federatsiya manned transport ship and \u201ccontinue the lunar programme\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Federatsiya is designed to fly to the Moon with four people on board. The first manned test launch is planned in 2023 from Russia\u2019s new Vostochny cosmodrome in the country\u2019s far east.<\/p>\n
The criteria for applicants include an age limit of 35, height between 1 metre 50 centimetres and 1 metre 90 (4 foot, 11 inches to 6 foot, 2 inches) and weight of no more than 90 kilograms (14 stone, 2 pounds), according to Roscosmos.<\/p>\n
IT skills and knowledge of a foreign language are required as well as an engineering degree or pilot training or experience in the aviation or space industries.<\/p>\n
A high standard of fitness is a must and would-be astronauts have to cross-country ski for 5 kilometres. They undergo a barrage of psychological and physical tests including gynaecological examinations for women.<\/p>\n
Applicants can apply by post or in person to Star City astronaut training centre outside Moscow, remembering to enclose three passport-sized photographs.<\/p>\n
Russia currently has 30 cosmonauts, 14 of whom have never been in space. The oldest is 58-year-old Gennady Padalka, who holds the world record for total time spent in space, while the youngest is 31-year-old Ivan Vagner, according to TASS state news agency.<\/p>\n
The first such open recruitment drive \u2014 not just for military pilots and those working in the space industry \u2014 was held in 2012.\u2014AFP<\/p>\n
Image: AFP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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