MOSCOW, December 8. /TASS/. The Yuri A. Gagarin State Scientific Research-and-Testing Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC, a part of the Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities) has received 1,300 applications from people aspiring to become cosmonauts, Cosmonaut Training Center Chief Maksim Kharlamov announced.

"We have already received 1,300 applications, and 32 people have already been selected by the commission to proceed to the next, in-person stage of selection. The selection process is ongoing, so we gladly invite those who wish to become cosmonauts," the Roscosmos press service quoted Kharlamov as saying.

Moreover, on December 7, Governor of the Novgorod Region Andrey Nikitin arrived at the Cosmonaut Training Center to discuss with Kharlamov the selection of candidates from his region for the cosmonaut corps. Thus, Vyacheslav Lobekin, a lecturer at Yaroslav-the-Wise Novgorod State University, and Artyom Kulguskin, an engineer at Research-and-Production Corporation "Precision Systems and Instruments" were chosen after an in-person interview, and a total of 11 people from the Novgorod Region sent applications to the competition committee.

"There was significant interest from Novgorod residents, there were a lot of people who wanted to become cosmonauts. The most important thing is that at the request of Roscosmos, we conducted initial medical examinations for the candidates at our regional hospital. There were candidates whose state of health currently does not meet the selection criteria, but at the same time they have the opportunity to improve their health and try again next time," Roscosmos quoted the Governor as saying.

On July 10, it was announced that the fourth open selection process for the Russian cosmonaut corps had begun. Roscosmos Executive Director for Crewed Space Programs Sergey Krikalev noted that four to six candidates from this pool would be selected for the corps. The documents on the results of the open cosmonaut selection will be transferred from the Cosmonaut Training Center to Roscosmos in March 2024. Initially, it was assumed that applications and copies of applicants' documents would be accepted until October 30, but at the end of October, the state corporation announced the selection period would be extended until December 20, 2023.