Russia
Inside the Russian Space Program, Oct. 1-11
ItineraryEnrichment Lecturer
Details & Pricing
When Yuri Gagarin made the world's first manned space flight in 1961, people in the U.S. were stunned and frightened. Nearly 50 years later, you can visit the place where the famous cosmonaut trained—Star City outside of Moscow—and the place where he was launched into space, remote Baykonur Cosmodrome on the Kazakh steppe.
Join fellow alumni on the MIT Alumni Travel Program's trip Inside the Russian Space Program, October 1-11, 2008. Download the brochure and register (PDF).
- Experience first-hand the launch of the Soyuz space capsule on its way to rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) from the VIP viewing area, along with the families of the cosmonauts, top officials and special guests.
- Enjoy unequaled access at Moscow Mission Control to observe the Soyuz docking at the ISS over live satellite feed, again very close to the action.
- Take part in one or more optional cosmonaut training activities, like a zero-G weightless flight or a dip in the hydrolab to simulate a space walk.
The lecture program is led by Dr. Dava Newman SM '89, PhD '92, MIT Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Engineering Systems, and director of the Technology and Policy Program at MIT. Professor Newman's contributions to the program will include talks that will focus on human factors in space and spacesuit design.
Also traveling with you on this program is Dr. Greg Olsen, lecturer in Electrical Engineering and the Center for Innovation in Engineering Education, and an alumnus of Princeton University.
Group size is limited 20 participants due to the exclusive entrée involved, so act today to reserve your place, and you will soon find yourself discovering the Russian space program from Earth.
An optional post-tour to St. Petersburg is available.
To reserve your space on this program, please call the MIT Alumni Travel Program at 800-992-6749 or email the program at compass@mit.edu.
