Before astronauts can be sent to a space station, they must pass a screening process and undergo extensive training at the facilities of one of the space agencies that will send them there. Only two space agencies can send astronauts to a space station: the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States and the Russian Space Agency (RSA) in Russia. Travelers who ride U.S. spacecraft are called astronauts, while travelers who ride RSA spacecraft are called cosmonauts. For simplicity's sake, this book will generally refer to all space travelers as astronauts. Astronaut training covers how to operate spacecraft systems; all aspects of launch and return, including emergency landings; and how to use and maintain the various systems aboard the space station.

The Right Stuff

Astronaut candidates must meet certain physical and psychological requirements to ensure that they can tolerate the...