Russian Movie in Space..................an update
It’s almost a month since the Russian space agency, Roscosmos, and their partners at Channel One TV, Moscow, announced their project to film a movie in space, next October and to find an actress, either professional or amateur, to play the leading role.
This appeared to be a last minute effort to upstage the plans of Tom Cruise, to also film on the International Space Station, in late 2021, although official confirmation of that project, is still awaited
Original Space Sleuthing Report
They launched an online competition to encourage applications from recognised actresses, and ‘ordinary’ women, between 25 and 45, who were interested in taking on the joint challenge of acting in the planned movie, and making a Soyuz spaceflight. Applicants who pass this online screening process will be called to face-to-face auditions, in early December.
So, with the first declared milestone – those face to face auditions - approaching, what else has happened?
Probably the most significant announcement came when Roscosmos revealed that a second seat on the Soyuz would be occupied by a non-professional cosmonaut. Although not explicitly stated, it is assumed that this will be someone connected to the movie, perhaps another actor, a camera operator, or the director. There is no indication how, or when this person will be selected.
What it does mean, is that two, rather than one cosmonaut, will now have an extended twelve month stay, on the International Space Station, and the Soyuz used for the launch, Soyuz MS-19, will have to be adapted to be flown by a single professional cosmonaut, as no Soyuz has previously flown with two ‘passengers’. This was a technique due to be introduced on the planned space tourist mission, arranged by Space Adventures, Soyuz MS-20, which is due to launch two months after the movie shoot is completed.
Regarding possible candidates for the movie role, and the spaceflight, a number of Russian actresses, TV personalities and journalists have revealed their intention to apply. However, it is difficult to judge how many, if any at all, of these are serious, and how many are just trying to draw attention on social media.
At Space Sleuthing, we’ve been talking to one woman who has a long-standing fascination for spaceflight, and is hopefully, a serious candidate, in the non-actress category.
Svetlana is 29, and is married with a two year-old daughter. She has a law degree, has worked as a fashion model, and is an experienced and fearless sky-diver. She been interested in space exploration for many year, which has led her to visit Baikonur, to witness a Soyuz launch, and has met numerous cosmonauts during trips to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre, or space related social events.
Svetlana takes up the story. “When I heard about this competition, I thought that this is a great chance that I can't miss for sure. I think this competition will resonate with a wide range of women who have dreamed about space flight, but were too far from the space sphere, or considered the usual requirements for cosmonauts too strict, because only one discrepancy is enough for the Commission to reject your candidacy.”
“I have been interested in space exploration for the long time, and so I already know quite a lot about how what would be involved, and how the flight goes. I know what to expect, and I am not going to romanticise this event too much. It will be very tough.”
Asked how she measures up to the requirements set out in the application process, Svetlana explains,
“I got a quite good education, in Law, at the best Russian University and have a good results in sports. In addition, I am an experienced skydiver. Skydiving teaches you to be stress-resistant and to make decisions very quickly.”
“Regarding the athletic requirements, I think I'll just need some swimming practice!”
“Perhaps I don't have enough public speaking experience. Basically, all my public performances are about walking on a runway as a model, and performing as an aerial gymnast.”
“I think that people in the cosmonaut selection team have a much longer list of requirements for candidates than we have been told so far. They know exactly what they need. First of all, they must be looking for a person capable of completing the space mission, and only secondly for an actress. I can only hope for good luck.”
When asked about the flight itself, and the prospect of launching on a rocket, Svetlana has already considered this.
“Soyuz has already proved its reliability, but nevertheless, space flight was always, and it is now, a complex technical process that thrills but also can be a little bit frightening, I think it's absolutely normal to feel like that."
"But I think the high-quality of training with the experienced instructors and psychologists of the Cosmonaut Training Centre will definitely help me not to be stressed before the launch. And, of course, the launch day will be an exciting moment that would divide my whole life into "before" and "after" my spaceflight!”
When asked about the fame and fortune that may await the star of this unique movie, Svetlana is unconcerned.
“I don't think about that. The obligations that are imposed on a person who has made a spaceflight are more important to think about. That person should be a good example for future generations, and share that experience.”
One aspect of this project which has not been explained, is who is paying? On one hand, the hardware is all manufactured, and the Soyuz seats for the actress and the other person, can be freed up, by adjusting cosmonaut assignments and flight duration. But, it is hard to believe that Roscosmos would not prefer to find a sponsor.
Some sources within Russia, and beyond, have suggested that the project hinges on this, but Roscosmos, or Channel One, have not commented on money. The next couple of months should tell us of this project will proceed, as announced.
Although it is clear that this project is a direct response to the Tom Cruise movie plans, sources in Russia and Japan have added a further dimension. One of the seats on the Soyuz MS-20 flight, mentioned earlier, has allegedly been sold to a Japanese corporation, who also plan to send an actress to the ISS, for an unknown purpose. The Japanese actress, has already been chosen, and has been cleared by the Russian flight planners! Rightly, or wrongly, it seems that late 2021 is going to see the ISS serving as a movie set, for several weeks!
