Inside the Russian Space Program and Launch of Manned Soyuz Mission to the International Space Station
March 26-April 5, 2010
Faculty: Kathryn Thornton, Assistant Dean and Professor, School of Engineering and Applied Science
Price: $18,795 per person, double occupancy, land program
$1,295 single supplement
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Overview
Enter the once highly classified world of Russian space travel as a privileged guest. Accompanied by U.Va. physicist and former astronaut Kathryn Thornton, witness first-hand the launch of a manned mission to the International Space Station (ISS) and get an inside look at the Russian space program. We will enjoy red carpet treatment at the rollout of the Soyuz rocket, at the ISS Crew press conference and at the exclusive launch-viewing area for the cosmonauts, their relatives, military brass and special guests.
Explore Star City, the premier training facility for cosmonauts and foreign astronauts, or choose to participate in optional cosmonaut training activities! Next, head to Kazakhstan and the remote desert launch site of Baikonur Cosmodrome. Witness the manned launch of the Soyuz spacecraft, enjoying unparalleled access to VIP viewing areas and briefing sessions. Back in Moscow, take in the classic sights before you observe the live Soyuz-ISS docking at Mission Control Center.
Between launch activities and touring some of the must-see sites in Moscow, we will have special access to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training facility in the once top-secret Star City, and we'll explore the MIR Space Station simulator, the ISS mockup, the hydro lab and the world's largest centrifuge used for simulating G-loads. As you may know, NASA will retire the space shuttle after the ISS assembly is complete, and all support for the station will be handled by Russia until a new U.S. launch system is deployed in the middle of the next decade.
Program Highlights
Join Professor Kathryn Thornton, U.Va faculty member, physicist and former astronaut, who shares insights gleaned from her 975 hours in space, including four space shuttle missions;- Witness first hand the launch of a manned mission to the International Space Station at the exclusive launch-viewing area for the cosmonauts, their relatives, military brass and special guests;
- Hear first hand from an astronaut (Thornton) what it is like to ride the shuttle back to Earth, repair the Hubble Space Telescope and walk in space;
- Have special access to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training facility in the once top-secret Star City and explore the MIR Space Station simulator, the Soyuz-TMA Simulator, the ISS mockup, the hydro lab and the world's largest centrifuge used for simulating G-loads;
Hop a special flight-for witnesses and participants in the launch-to Baikonur Cosmodrome, on the arid Kazakh steppe.- Ask questions of the next ISS crew at their pre-flight press conference at the Cosmonaut Hotel;
- Enter the exclusive Diamond Fund in the Kremlin's Armory Museum;
- Witness the Soyuz docking at the International Space Station from VIP seating at Moscow's Mission Control Center.
Accommodations
- Hotel Marriott Grand-Moscow: In the heart of Moscow near Red Square, the Kremlin and the Bolshoi Theatre, the Moscow Marriott Grand Hotel is known for impeccable service. The spacious accommodations and suites include a safe, individual climate control and wireless broadband Internet access. Stay fit in the exclusive Fitness Gym featuring state-of-the-art equipment, and unwind in the indoor pool and sauna. Russkiy Pogrebok features authentic Russian cuisine and two other restaurants offer delightful international food.
- Hotel Sputnik-Baikonur: A four-star hotel with a pool and fitness center, the Hotel Sputnik is designed for the convenience of visitors to the Cosmodrome.
Meals
Nine dinners, eight lunches and nine breakfasts.
^ back to topFaculty
Kathryn Thornton MS '77, Ph.D. '79
Assistant Dean and Professor, School of Engineering and Applied Science
Prior to joining the School of Engineering and Applied Science faculty, Kathryn Thornton served for 12 years as an astronaut based at the Johnson Space Center, where her duties included a term as head of the Education Working Group in addition to participation in space missions. For her work on the Hubble Telescope repair project and other missions she was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and other honors. Before becoming a member of the space program, she co-authored more than 30 scientific publications and was a staff physicist for the U.S. Army Foreign Science and Technology Center. She is currently interested in the development of educational programs to improve the teaching of science and mathematics from kindergarten through high school and in methods to encourage more women to enter these fields. She is also exploring the history of space flight.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Friday, March 26
Depart U.S.A.
Day 2 - Saturday, March 27
Arrive in Moscow
Dine with a guest from the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) and admire Red Square at night.
Day 3 - Sunday, March 28
Moscow
Visit the once-classified Star City and the premier training facility for Russian cosmonauts and foreign astronauts. Explore the MIR Space Station simulator, visit the Soyuz-TMA integrated simulator and the International Space Station mockup. At the massive Hydrolab, learn how crews acquire the skills to walk in space. The world's largest centrifuge, used for simulating G-loads, is on the program as well.
Day 4 - Monday, March 29
Moscow / Optional Cosmonaut Training Day
Today, those taking part in optional cosmonaut training activities depart for GCTC. The others tour the Monino Air Museum, a coveted stop for anyone interested in aviation. Admire the famous Tupelov Tu-95-a huge Cold War bomber called the "Bear"-MIGs, Yaks and the largest helicopter in the world, the Mil M-12. Visit the Cold War Museum Bunker, built to withstand a nuclear attack. Enjoy an evening lecture and/or a possible guest speaker.
Day 5 - Tuesday, March 30
Moscow / Baikonur
Transfer to Chkalovsky Air Base to hop the special flight for launch participants and witnesses going to Baikonur Cosmodrome on the Kazakh steppe. This evening enjoy a lecture and/or guest speaker.
Day 6 - Wednesday, March 31
Baikonur
Follow the Soyuz to the launch pad together with the press, military personnel, cosmonauts and their relatives. View the Gagarin Start, where the Sputnik launches took place, and mingle with the press and other guests. Visit the Baikonur Museum, the Gagarin and Korolev living apartments and the monument to the dawning of the Space Age.
Day 7 - Thursday, April 1
Baikonur
Tour the Buran hangar where the rockets are assembled, and visit the Energia and Proton launch pads. This afternoon enjoy VIP seating at the ISS Crew Press Conference at the Cosmonaut Hotel. Here is your chance to ask any burning questions you may have of the next ISS crew.
Day 8 - Friday, April 2
Baikonur / Launch Date of Soyuz / Moscow
Today is the day of the manned launch of the Soyuz to the International Space Station. Witness the process before, during and after the launch. Experience behind-the-scenes events, including the sendoff from the Cosmonaut Hotel and the Space Crew's ready-to-go official report. Then proceed to the launch pad, with access to the VIP viewing area.
Day 9 - Saturday, April 3
Moscow
Enjoy a private visit to the Kremlin and Armory Museum. Inside the Kremlin's walls are palaces, cathedrals, government buildings and the Armory Museum, which houses Russia's national treasures. The Diamond Fund, by special arrangement, is an exclusive collection of "crown valuables," jewelry pieces made for the czars and the royal court, including imperial regalia such as crowns and bejeweled scepters.
Day 10 - Sunday, April 4
Moscow / Mission Control
Gather in a VIP seating gallery at Mission Control Center for the live satellite feed of the Soyuz docking. This afternoon-or this morning, depending on the docking schedule-visit the Energia Space Museum, displaying Yuri Gagarin's original landing module, the spacecraft from which Alexei Leonov took the world's first space walk, and a full-scale mockup of the Soyuz-Apollo spacecraft.
Day 11 - Monday, April 5
Return to U.S.A.
Program Fees
$18,795 per person, double occupancy, land program
$1,295 single supplement
Program Includes:
• All accommodations based on double occupancy
• Meals as listed in the itinerary including beer and wine
• Welcome and farewell receptions in Moscow as per itinerary
• Bottled/purified water available throughout
• All land transportation and airport transfers in Russia
• Economy class round-trip domestic flight, Moscow to Baikonur
• All sightseeing and excursions
• Special access to the facilities in Star City and the Baikonur Cosmodrome
• English-speaking tour manager and guides throughout the program
• All gratuities and entrance fees
• Baggage handling for transfers and at hotels
• Lecture series with Dr. Kathryn Thornton
Program Does Not Include:
• International air from your hometown or the United States to Moscow and back
• Pre- or post-tour extensions; meals not specified on itinerary
• Medical exam or any optional cosmonaut training activities at Star City
• Passport and visa fees
• Travel/baggage insurance
• Immunizations
• Excess baggage charges
• Fuel surcharges
• Items of a personal nature, including laundry, telephone/fax bills and mini-bar bills
• Single supplement
• Other items not specifically mentioned as included
How To Register
Ready to register? The best way to do this is by phone so that we can ensure we are meeting all of your needs. Please call us at 866-765-2646. Or e-mail cavaliertravels@virginia.edu with your contact information and the best time to reach you.
A deposit of $2,000 per person is required to reserve your spot. Final invoicing will be done approximately four months prior to departure. Final payment is due January 11, 2010.
Deposits can be made via check (should be made out to MIR Corporation) or credit card: Mastercard or Visa.
Early registration is encouraged as space is limited.
Upon registration, you must provide your full legal name as it appears on your passport. In the event an airline ticket is issued with incorrect information you have provided, you will be responsible for charges associated with reissuing the ticket.
^ back to topGeneral Terms & Conditions
NOTE: This tour is planned around a manned launch of the Soyuz, and therefore requires some flexibility with dates. In case the launch dates shift, we suggest that all participants keep their schedules fairly open for two weeks prior and two weeks after the tour and not to book international flights until being contacted by the tour operator.
Air Arrangements: Program rates do not include international airfare. Because there are a number of flight options available, there is no group flight for this program. Information on recommended flight itinerary will be sent by our tour operator upon confirmation.
What to Expect: This trip is moderately active due to the substantial distances covered and the extensive walking and stair climbing required. To reap the full rewards of this adventure, travelers must be able to walk at least a mile a day; flexibility and a willingness to accept local standards of amenities and services are highly recommended as well. In true expedition style, some delays or changes in the itinerary are likely.
Reservations and Payments: To reserve space, call us at 866-765-2646 and complete and return the reservation form with your non-refundable deposit ($2,000 per person). If paying by check, make payable to MIR Corporation. Mail payment and registration form to the University of Virginia Cavalier Travels. The final payment, payable by check only, is due by December 23, 2009. All tour prices and airfares quoted are based on tariffs, costs, and exchange rates of the United States dollar that were in effect at the time of publication. Consequently, prices herein are subject to change. Reservations will be processed in order of receipt, subject to availability. The University of Virginia Cavalier Travels and MIR Corporation, the tour operator, reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a participant at any time.
Cancellations and Refunds: All cancellations must be made in writing to the University of Virginia Cavalier Travels and are effective upon our receipt of your written notification. All refunds are limited to amounts actually received by MIR Corporation (MIR) and are the sole responsibility of MIR Corporation; U.Va. shall have no liability for refunds. At the time the cancellation is received, the following cancellation charges will apply: Cancellations received 90 or more days before departure, deposits paid or due in full of $2,000 per person; those received 61 days to 89 days before departure, 50% of land tour cost per person; those received 60 days or less before departure, no refund. Refunds cannot be made to passengers who do not complete the tour for any reason at all. U.Va. and MIR reserve the right, without penalty, to withdraw the tour announced (i.e., cancel a tour). MIR reserves the right to decline to accept any person as a participant in a tour, or to require any participant to withdraw from a tour at any time at his/her own expense, when such action is determined by tour staff to be in the best interest of the health, safety, or general welfare of the tour group or of the individual participant, and subject only to the requirement that the recoverable cost of unused services and accommodations be refunded, if any. Note: Neither U.Va. nor MIR, accepts liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable ticket in connection with this tour. It is recommended that you not purchase international flights until instructed by the tour operator.
Insurance: Trip cancellation/interruption insurance is highly recommended and should be considered for your financial protection. Also important is medical insurance and emergency medical evacuation coverage. Information on insurance is available and will be mailed upon receipt of your reservation.
Health: All participants should be in good health and capable of walking over rough terrain. By forwarding the deposit for passage, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him- or herself or other passengers.
Disclaimer: Please note that U.Va. does not conduct tours, nor do they act as an agent for guests interested in tours. U.Va. acts as facilitators with tour operators, with whom tour participants make arrangements for completing travel. They are pleased to act as a liaison with tour operators should you have any questions or concerns that may arise before, during, or after your tour. U.Va. is not responsible for changes to trips or travel arrangements, or for losses or additional expenses resulting from travel. A detailed statement of limitations and exclusions of liability of MIR, U.Va. for loss of property, injury, illness or death will be provided to passengers upon enrollment and is available to prospective travelers upon request. A signed release is required for trip participation.
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