With unique photographs, first-hand interviews and previously untapped
historical resources, an expert team of space-historians, for the very
first time, how Russian citizens have been selected and trained to fly
in space as well as how these procedures have changed during the past 40
years. The authors also describe the evolution of the often overlooked
ground support infrastructure and how the role of cosmonauts has changed
from the very earliest days of the Gagarin era, through the demise of
the Soviet Union, to the era of international co-operation and
collaboration on program such as the International Space Station.
Therefore, Russia's Cosmonauts provides much needed background
information and insight into the operational Soviet/Russian manned space
program; revealing information and facts not covered elsewhere, and
providing a unique reference source for all those who wish to understand
the changing role of Russian cosmonauts in today's global space
enterprise.