posted 02-05-2026 08:21 AM               

The latest selection process for the Roscosmos cosmonaut corps has begun

The head of the Roscosmos State Corporation, Dmitry Bakanov, has approved the regulations on the procedure and conditions for conducting an open competition for the selection of Russian citizens as cosmonaut candidates.

The selection of candidates has been entrusted to the Cosmonaut Training Center with the participation of representatives of the Energia Rocket and Space Corporation and the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Applicants must be no older than 35 years of age as of December 31, 2025, and have a higher education in the field of engineering, natural sciences or medicine. The average grade point average in their diploma must not be lower than 4, and they must have at least three years of work experience in their chosen profession.

During the selection process, candidates' abilities to study space technology, knowledge of physics and mathematics, and proficiency in one of the European foreign languages (English, Italian, Spanish, German, or French) at the level of a non-specialized university program will be tested.

Applicants will face tasks to test their written and oral literacy, basic knowledge of the history of cosmonautics and world culture.

The future cosmonaut must be in good physical shape and have no chronic diseases. The maximum height for selection is 190 cm, and the weight is 90 kg. The minimum indicators are 150 cm and 50 kg. Foot size should not exceed size 46.

The selection will take place in two stages. In the first, remote stage, applicants must prepare and submit the necessary set of documents for verification.

After verifying the documents for compliance with the requirements, specialists will decide on admission to the next stage, which will be held in person. Those who did not pass the remote stage will be notified. The rest will be invited to test their professional skills, psychological qualities, physical fitness, and health status.

An applicant will be denied further selection if they have tattoos. The only exceptions are a blood type mark or a letter tattoo up to three centimeters in diameter. However, these requirements will also have to be met in the event of successful selection.

Detailed information about the selection rules for the cosmonaut corps is available on the website of the Cosmonaut Training Center and on the social media platforms of the Roscosmos State Corporation.