What kind of work does the cosmonauts do? Detailed analysis

From the article you will learn about what kind of workperform cosmonauts, the history of development of near-Earth space, and what profession is needed if you decided to devote the life of the opportunity to visit the Earth's orbit and not only.

Flat world

Since ancient times and the first discoveries in the fieldastronomy, scientists who suspected that the Earth is not at all flat, seriously questioned: what is behind its borders? The fact that many planets are known already in ancient Rome and Greece, but this information about the cosmos was coming to an end. Alas, only one visual observation here is not limited.

And no matter how the researchers took up this issue,I had to wait until the middle of the twentieth century. Approximately then the first unmanned vehicles left the Earth's limits. And yet they did not stop there, because only people can exercise a full-fledged activity in such conditions. So, what kind of work does the cosmonauts do?

Experiments

Here it is important to clarify: strangely enough, but it is the study of space in orbit that is the least involved. Global processes for research are available from the Earth, even in the form of theories with hypotheses, but every year many of them find their confirmation. For example, knowledge of how the universe was born, how the stars appeared, how many years the planets, etc. scientists have received, never having been directly in space and at times when such flights were impossible. For example, as it was with Einstein and his theory of relativity, as well as with black holes, which are studied by Hawking.

But, of course, there are processes, the study of which is possible only outside the Earth. So what kind of work does the cosmonauts do?

Biology and Medicine

Biologists and physiologists study the effect of weightlessnesson the human body, changes that occur after a long time in microgravity. Also on the ISS is constantly inhabited by a small "menagerie" of several mice and insects. On their offspring find out what earth creatures are born in the cosmos.

Botany

At the ISS also a long time watching the growthplants, for how they change and adapt under the action of constant cosmic radiation and all the same weightlessness. That's what the work of people-astronauts.

Psychology

Such luxury as hold on board spacestation own psychologist, no one can not afford. However, the very conditions of living in a close confined space away from the usual conditions are an excellent testing ground for psychiatry. Of course, no one puts special experiments on cosmonauts, but simply looks after and helps in difficult situations.

Physics chemistry

Also on board the ISS are various physical experiments on the study of cosmic background radiation, the Earth's magnetosphere. Do not sit around and chemists.

Now we know what kind of work the cosmonauts are doing.

Sense of research

As is easy to see, some of the observations andexperiments is aimed at the future, when interplanetary flights, and, possibly, interstellar flights become possible. By that time, space explorers should have a ready scientific basis for the theory and practice of how to live on board a ship millions of kilometers from our planet. After all, in this case it will be problematic to deliver food, oxygen and water from the Earth, which means that it is necessary to provide a completely closed life support system, well, or acting for a very long time. It will also come in handy when settlements on other planets are founded.

So the chance to go to the InternationalThe space station has representatives of many professions. In addition, almost all astronauts have several formations and specializations. Do not forget and flight engineers with pilots and just "techies", because without them the normal operation of the station would be impossible.

What kind of work does the cosmonauts in space do?

Immediately behind the ISS, researchers are mainly engaged in its prevention and maintenance. Especially from time to time the station expands due to the modular system.

In 1997, a seriousaccident: special cartridges for producing oxygen burned, and the crew had to fight for a long time to live. And after that there was a collision with the cargo ship, as a result of which several solar batteries were damaged, and then it was necessary to re-install them. But nevertheless, mostly with the question of what kind of work the cosmonauts in space do, the space explorers talk about the usual maintenance and rare experiments for which it is necessary to find a person outside the habitable modules.

Activities on Earth

Many people dream about the flight on the ISS, but evenenrollment in a cosmonaut detachment does not guarantee that a person will definitely be there. The number of applicants is too large, and the current development of this industry can not ensure the presence in the orbit of all willing scientists. True, Russia announced the construction of a new, much more modern station, but this is a separate conversation. So what kind of work do the people of the cosmonaut profession do when they are on Earth?

First, it is a constant training, asphysical, and in their specialty, to always be ready to go to the ISS in the event of an emergency. Secondly, many of them possess the knowledge that is needed in the control center for flights and in the construction of ships - engineers, physicists, programmers. And thirdly, they develop and test new technologies.