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On July 5, 2016 a regular creative meeting has been held at the All-Russian Scientific-Research Institute of Aviation Materials within the project “Synkletos at VIAM”. The guest of the event has become Valery G. Korzun, pilot-cosmonaut, deputy Head of Yu. A. Gagarin research and test cosmonaut training center, Hero of the Russian Federation.

Valery Korzun said that he had gladly accepted an invitation to take part in the Synkletos. “I perfectly understand, how the stories about space not from books, but from mouths of those who had a chance to go there impressed young people”, - he pointed out.

Valery Korzun has performed two flights and four spacewalks. The pilot-cosmonaut expressed his gratitude to the scientists of VIAM for development of color-filters for space suits “Orlan”, which secured faces and eyes of the cosmonauts against solar radiation during work in space.

Speaking about the competitive selection of space flight candidates, Valery Korzun pointed out, that both traditional and new methods were applied in Russia. “For example, it is important to understand, how quickly a candidate will be able to learn new theme for a definite amount of time, to know his capacity to study new”, - he said. 

In his opinion, a selection in USA is not less strict than ours: many candidates there are eliminated still at the first stage.

According to deputy Head of GCTC, Russian cosmonautics has good opportunities. “Soon Soyuz-MS, the newest modification of Soyuz, will fly to space. In the future, all spaceflights will be performed on Soyuz-MS spacecraft”, - he told.  “We have begun to work at the Spaceport “Eastern” (Kosmodrom Vostochny in Russian). The first phase was built for a modified rocket “Soyuz”, the second phase of the cosmodrom will be built for a new rocket “Angara” and for a new manual craft”, - Valery Korzun continued. The first manned launch is planned on the new craft, the new rocket and from the new cosmodrom in 2023”, - he pointed out.

Valery Korzun told about his feelings during spacewalks: “It was terribly. I had feeling that I could fall – simply fall – from the station, slide down into an abyss, although I was fastened through straps and nothing could happened. But it was the first feeling and then you got used to. One can get used to everything”.

Answering the question about manned flight to Mars, Valery Korzun noted, that “if humanity is able to carry out the flight, it will be technical breakthrough. Today none of the countries can implement this program alone. Of course, it is necessary to make joint efforts to develop technologies, including crew protection against radiation in order to solve the tasks”.

Valery Korzun`s story aroused great interest among the audience. He answered the numerous questions and thanked the attendees for their attention and comfortable atmosphere.

It should be added, that Valery Korzun got acquainted with scientific and production base of the institute within the framework of the visit to VIAM.