Oleg Artemyev: “If I lived another life, I would have studied in SSAU at the Engine Building Department”

106 participants from 10 Russian and foreign cities came to SSAU to take part in the School of Astronautics. Lectures, practical and sporting activities were conducted by Oleg Artemyev, test cosmonaut of Roscosmos; Irina Bayanovna Solovyova, the famous Soviet athlete-parachutist, a member of the astronaut corps holding the rank of Colonel, backup pilot of the first woman astronaut Valentina Tereshkova; Sergey Kiselev, legendary parachutist, ten times world record holder, the first parachutist-camera operator in the world.

The participants got unique knowledge during the four very busy days of training at the School of Astronautics, they heard firsthand about the life at the International Space Station and the work in space, they even were able to try on the suit for the spacecraft flight and the gloves, in which Oleg Artemyev worked in open space. 

 

The astronaut gave details about the features of extravehicular activity, and what we need to become members of the cosmonaut corps. Each lecture was followed by a huge number of questions from the School participants. The young people were interested in the technical details of the ISS, the space launch vehicle and manned spacecraft operation as well as personal and domestic problems – how to sleep in zero-gravity, how much the astronauts earn and scientific component of the work as well. The young people learned about the scheme to send their experiment to the ISS, which experiments are being conducted there by the different countries, and what practical benefit it can bring to all mankind. 
 

A direct connection with Mikhail Kornienko, an astronaut from Samara Region, which is now at the International Space Station - became a surprise for the School participants.
 

Irina Solovyova and Sergey Kiselev shared their experience of parachute training, talked about the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and what kind of person he was. 
 

At the closing of the School of Astronautics Oleg Artemyev was awarded the title “Honorary graduate of KAI-SSAU”. YevgenIy Shakhmatov, Rector of Samara State Aerospace University underlined: “Oleg Germanovich contributes greatly to the development of our university, personnel training, work with youth, the promotion of the technologies created at the university”. 
 

Oleg Artemyev expressed his gratitude for the high evaluation of his activity and shared his impressions of the last School of Astronautics:”I was pleasantly surprised that the people arrived here from Samara and other cities are interested and motivated. They are extraordinary guys fond of astronautics, it was easy and pleasant to communicate with them”. 
 

Oleg Artemyev expressed special thanks to the organizers of the School of Astronautics. “SSAU is a university having good traditions. I believe that this is one of the best universities in our country. If I lived another life, I would have studied in SSAU at the Engine Building Department”, - shared his thoughts Oleg Artemyev.
 

The participants of the School of Astronautics from Samara, Kazan, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ufa, Kemerovo and other cities noted the high level of the event organization, hospitality of Samara State Aerospace University and an interesting program of the School. 

Opinions of participants of the School of Astronautics: 
 

Maria Ostapenko, Master’s Degree student, Higher School of Economics, Moscow: 

- I am very grateful to Oleg Artemyev, Irina Solovyova and Sergey Kiselev, because they have found time in their busy schedule and came to the School of Astronautics. Through their stories, many of the School participants were inspired to make their first step into the sky. 

Aleksey Baturin, prospective university student, Maardu, Estonia: 

- This year I applied for admission to SSAU and was pleased to take part in the School of Astronautics. I'm interested in the space theme, it gives a motivation to learn, grow and inspires. It was very interesting to learn about the astronauts’ work. It is important that currently Russia is working to promote space exploration. 
 

Lyubov Kurganskaya, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Senior Fellow of the Scientific Research Laboratory of Information Management Process Modelling and Information Processing at the Department of Differential Equations and Management Theory of SSU, Samara: 

- I liked the classes in the School of Astronautics very much. I have already been involved in the space experiments within the framework of the mission of satellites “Bion-M” No.1 and “Foton-M” No.4, I participated in the launches. It was interesting to learn from Oleg Artemyev, what kind of work is now carried out on the ISS and to get acquainted with the legendary people. Maybe I will be able to implement my experiment on board the ISS. 
 

Irina Deeva, Master’s Degree student, Higher School of Economics, Moscow: 

- I would like to thank SSAU for the School organization. As we drove here from Moscow, we did not expect such a high level! Everything  was great and we felt the support of the organizers. Thanks!