On January, 15 Head of Yu. A. Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Centre, Sergey Krikalev visited Kazan Federal University.
Sergey Krikalev is a Russian cosmonaut, the Earth record breaker in total time of in-space staying (803 days within 6 launches as at October 11, 2005). He was awarded the title of the Hero of the USSR and the Russian Federation (there are only four Russian citizens having the both of awards). Moreover, he is World champion in gliding.
The meeting was attended by KFU faculty and students. Vice-Rector for Research, Danis Nurgaliev told about current work and promising collaboration between Roskosmos and KFU. Vice-Rector informed that at the moment KFU was conducting 120 research works devoted to space issues and presented the functioning projects as well as future plans. According to him it is planned to transform the Engelhard Astronomy Observatory into the Centre for space research and technologies. This centre will serve as a fundamental astro – geodetic observatory.
Sergey Krikalev was interested in these ideas and proposed the University to turn to the issues of pilot-controlled cosmonautics. He supposes these issues to be very valuable from practical view.
In the end of the meeting the participants were able to ask the famous cosmonaut the questions concerning his own work and space industry in whole.