0:00:06 > 0:00:07- ASTRONAUT:- Wow.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09That's a beautiful thing. Look at that.
0:00:14 > 0:00:20250 miles above us, six people are living in space.
0:00:20 > 0:00:21All right.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Millions dream of going into orbit,
0:00:25 > 0:00:27but few ever make it a reality.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37Now, a hand-picked group of exceptional applicants...
0:00:37 > 0:00:38Go.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41..are about to be put through astronaut selection...
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Commander.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47..by former commander of the International Space Station,
0:00:47 > 0:00:48Chris Hadfield...
0:00:48 > 0:00:52Ten seconds, hands on your head, go.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55..along with trauma specialist Dr Kevin Fong...
0:00:55 > 0:00:58Being an astronaut places extreme demands on the human body.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01..and psychologist Dr Iya Whiteley.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03So she's focused, determined.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Over six weeks,
0:01:06 > 0:01:10with access to remarkable training facilities across the globe...
0:01:10 > 0:01:11Start spinning.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14..candidates will face a series of gruelling tests...
0:01:14 > 0:01:19I can't quit. I've got the determination to see it through to the end.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24..using standards set by the world's space agencies.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Being sat in a chair where astronauts have actually sat
0:01:26 > 0:01:28and trained is such a privilege.
0:01:28 > 0:01:29Going to 4.5.
0:01:35 > 0:01:36Brace for impact.
0:01:38 > 0:01:44Those who fail to make the grade can be asked to leave at any time.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47The reality is, your scores have not been high.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50But, for the person who impresses the most...
0:01:50 > 0:01:52I feel I absolutely smashed that.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56..the ultimate reference.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01Chris's backing for their application when the space agencies
0:02:01 > 0:02:03next take on recruits.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07We really want to put the best people...
0:02:09 > 0:02:11..onto the rocket ship.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Oxygen failure, oxygen failure, oxygen failure.
0:02:21 > 0:02:22Last time...
0:02:25 > 0:02:26..Jackie struggled...
0:02:27 > 0:02:30..but Hannah failed to conquer her fears.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32It's my idea of hell.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36Any tendency towards drama is almost the opposite of what we need.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Your astronaut selection ends today.
0:02:39 > 0:02:44The candidates got a chance to use some hi-tech space equipment.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47You are going to be operating a robot on Mars.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51James H lost his way.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Easily be the worst here, and go home today.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58Just eight astronaut candidates have reached the next stage of selection.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01It only gets tougher from here, doesn't it?
0:03:08 > 0:03:09For the remaining candidates,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13who range from doctors of science to military pilots and a professional
0:03:13 > 0:03:19ballerina, an already gruelling selection process is about to get
0:03:19 > 0:03:21harder still.
0:03:26 > 0:03:31The eight of you have completed the basic evaluation phase of
0:03:31 > 0:03:33astronaut selection.
0:03:33 > 0:03:34Congratulations to you.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39This means we are now beginning the advanced testing phase.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43And part of that is going to take place abroad.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47We're going to be conducting astronaut testing in foreign space
0:03:47 > 0:03:52agency facilities. But today's test will take place in the pool.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58I've spent thousands of hours in the water as an astronaut.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02So many of the training facilities we have, they're in pools,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05because that's the best way to simulate being weightless.
0:04:08 > 0:04:09An extreme airless environment,
0:04:09 > 0:04:14water offers the closest analogue on Earth to working in space.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Once you're finished in the airlock...
0:04:16 > 0:04:21Like Chris, all astronauts prepare for spacewalks in underwater
0:04:21 > 0:04:22neutral buoyancy labs.
0:04:25 > 0:04:30A comfort and an ability both on the water and under the water is just
0:04:30 > 0:04:32an essential skill to be a successful astronaut.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38The first test the candidates face is one used by the military and all
0:04:38 > 0:04:40space agencies - a timed swim.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43To make it tougher,
0:04:43 > 0:04:47they'll be wearing bulky flight suits and shoes.
0:04:47 > 0:04:52The additional drag will slow down their speed and endurance by a third.
0:04:52 > 0:04:53It makes it much harder.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Even if you're a strong swimmer, your ability to propel yourself,
0:04:56 > 0:05:01your ability to stay afloat is all massively, massively impaired.
0:05:01 > 0:05:08At the pool, we regularly choose who is not going to be an astronaut.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12Anyone who fails to meet the standard could be asked to leave
0:05:12 > 0:05:14at any point.
0:05:14 > 0:05:15This task doesn't scare me.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17Every year in the air force, we do this test.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19So I'm lucky because I've had all this training,
0:05:19 > 0:05:22but then is it luck or have I decided to put myself through all
0:05:22 > 0:05:25that training cos I want to be an astronaut?
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Maximum time is four minutes.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Slightly nervous. I don't want to go home.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36So I need to make sure that I am ahead of the other candidates
0:05:36 > 0:05:40that are also not the strongest of swimmers.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43I need to ask before we start, if anyone has any issues, any problems,
0:05:43 > 0:05:46any reason why they cannot participate in this event.
0:05:46 > 0:05:47Everyone happy to participate?
0:05:49 > 0:05:53I'm really proud of myself for getting this far in the process.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57I am not so thrilled that it is swimming again.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Particle physicist Jackie has a fear of water -
0:06:00 > 0:06:03something which has held her back already in the process.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08Normally I'm quite composed and I think logically,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11but bring water into it and I do kind of panic.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Candidates, get in the pool.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19That's probably because, when I was younger,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22I nearly drowned on a school trip.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25Hopefully...hopefully I'll be OK.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Everyone give me a thumbs up when you're ready.
0:06:35 > 0:06:36Jackie.
0:06:39 > 0:06:40Good luck.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44Take your marks. Go!
0:06:51 > 0:06:5330 seconds into the test,
0:06:53 > 0:06:57four of the candidates have already hit the halfway mark.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Look, Carrie has decided to swim with Jackie.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05That's interesting to see.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11I'm next to Jackie, and she is scared, and I can swim,
0:07:11 > 0:07:15I know I can swim probably around the top end of the guys here.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17But in my mind, an astronaut is a team player.
0:07:17 > 0:07:18Good girl.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23Despite Kerry's encouragement...
0:07:23 > 0:07:25- You can do it. - ..Jackie is struggling.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33The rest of the candidates complete the swim in just over one minute...
0:07:38 > 0:07:41..with commercial airline pilot Tessa finishing half a length
0:07:41 > 0:07:44behind the leaders.
0:07:44 > 0:07:45Absolutely fine.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51Come on, Jackie.
0:07:51 > 0:07:53That's it, you've got it.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57- Come on.- There is one minute left.
0:07:57 > 0:07:58One minute.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59No problem.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01With ten metres to go...
0:08:02 > 0:08:04You can do it, you can do it.
0:08:04 > 0:08:05..and 30 seconds on the clock...
0:08:07 > 0:08:08- ALL:- Come on.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13..Jackie can swim no further.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Kerry, complete your swim.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17Come on, Kerry.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25I want to stay, and a lot of the other skills that an astronaut would
0:08:25 > 0:08:28have, I feel like I do have them skills.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32I just have never learned to swim properly,
0:08:32 > 0:08:33and I regret that now.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39Kerry made a pact with Jackie right at the very beginning to help her,
0:08:39 > 0:08:44which is good, commendable, and I probably would have done the same.
0:08:44 > 0:08:45It is a gamble.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47I genuinely don't know what they're measuring.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50I know what I think an astronaut should be.
0:08:50 > 0:08:51Out you get.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54In my mind it is more about teamwork than individual glory.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05Next, the candidates must tread water for ten minutes.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07Three... Two...
0:09:07 > 0:09:08One... Begin.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Jackie lasts just 45 seconds.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21Ten seconds, hands on your head, go.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24- Ten...- And Chris makes the test tougher still.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Seven... 20 seconds.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29Go.
0:09:29 > 0:09:3320, 19, 18, on your head...
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Science teacher James is next to run into trouble...
0:09:36 > 0:09:41- James, come on out. - ..reaching the seven minute mark.
0:09:41 > 0:09:42I was a bit gutted about my being pulled out.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45I know I don't float. And my treading water is all arms.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49So as soon as he said we're going to do bits where we put our arms above
0:09:49 > 0:09:51our heads, I knew I was sunk.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55Space scientist Suzie stops just 15 seconds before the ten minutes is up.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Three, two, one.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- Tread water.- Already pushed to their limits...
0:10:04 > 0:10:06We just did ten minutes.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09..Chris tests the candidates even further.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11We're going to stay two more. Two more minutes.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Kerry and space engineer Vijay,
0:10:16 > 0:10:22PhD Student Tim, Merritt and Tessa all make it to the end.
0:10:22 > 0:10:23Outstanding, everybody.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30For the final part of the swim test,
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Chris and the panel want to see how well the candidates work together.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41So much of what astronauts do is not just to have the raw ability,
0:10:41 > 0:10:45but a proven ability to apply their intelligence to solve problems,
0:10:45 > 0:10:48and not just as one person, but as a team.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52So how do you test for intelligent teamwork?
0:10:52 > 0:10:58First to face the teamwork test are Tim, Suzie, Merritt and Tessa.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02On the bottom of the pool in front of you are seven pieces.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06They fit together into a cube.
0:11:06 > 0:11:11There are 240 different ways that those pieces will go together.
0:11:11 > 0:11:12So you have no excuse.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16This test is based on one used by the Canadian space agency
0:11:16 > 0:11:19in their latest astronaut selection process.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Do we assemble the cube at the bottom of the pool?
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Yes. Assemble the cube right where it is now.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28It would be nice to pick it up and do it on the surface.
0:11:28 > 0:11:29You will have ten minutes total.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Three, two, one.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36- Begin.- OK, do you want to someone up top, or hand signals?
0:11:36 > 0:11:39A good team will communicate well with each other,
0:11:39 > 0:11:41and then they'll distribute roles.
0:11:45 > 0:11:50It is going to be a real test of leadership and of teamwork.
0:11:50 > 0:11:51Shall I go down and give her a hand?
0:11:51 > 0:11:53Yeah.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00By putting this test in the bottom of a swimming pool,
0:12:00 > 0:12:04it takes what should be a fairly simple task and puts it in a more
0:12:04 > 0:12:06space-like environment.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12You are up against your own physiology,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14how long you can hold your own breath.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18You have to communicate non-verbally when you're under the water,
0:12:18 > 0:12:21and they've got limited time.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23It's going to be pretty difficult.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26Two square cubes go in that corner, and you'll have one...
0:12:26 > 0:12:29While her team-mates work at the bottom of the pool,
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Tessa stays on the surface to direct them.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36She's trying to get them to organise together.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Make that hole, so the green T sits inside it.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43This test assesses the candidates' 3-D visualisation -
0:12:43 > 0:12:47the ability to move the shapes around in their heads.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51They've got sort of a rectangle, and they haven't used all the pieces.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Something this team is struggling with.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56Three minutes.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03Suzie has been over, catching her breath, for a minute.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05With the team in disarray,
0:13:05 > 0:13:08quantum physicist Merritt tries to take on the cube alone.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13I'm not sure how directed Merritt's action is,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Merritt's kind of like... she's doing her own thing.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21She's decided it has a better chance with just her.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22Two minutes.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Something's not right.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29No, it's a three-by-three cube, so... We need to take it round.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Tessa - she wants to direct,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35but she feels frustrated by her inability to communicate ideas.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40One minute remaining.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43- One minute.- Let's do the best we can do now.- Yeah, OK.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49One piece completely loose over at the side.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52This is not a great performance, I have to say.
0:13:52 > 0:13:53They're nowhere close.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55ALARM BEEPS
0:13:55 > 0:13:56Time.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Well done, team.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02It was so difficult to do anything under the water,
0:14:02 > 0:14:04cos by the time you got to the bottom of the pool,
0:14:04 > 0:14:08you were out of breath already and you had to swim back up.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11I do think we should have talked more throughout the test.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14I felt comfortable underneath the water,
0:14:14 > 0:14:17and so, if I saw something, then I thought, "Oh, I'll try this,"
0:14:17 > 0:14:18and then come back up.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21I kind of was, like, the base is wrong.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24The base is wrong, but then you guys were doing a great job
0:14:24 > 0:14:26assembling it, I kind of doubted myself...
0:14:26 > 0:14:30I'm not happy with what's just happened, cos I feel like part of it's my fault,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33and communication wasn't as effective as it could have been,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35and I know I should have communicated a bit better
0:14:35 > 0:14:37and I should have got them to listen.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42Next to tackle the cube are Kerry, Jackie, James and Vijay.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50Jackie has so far failed to complete any of today's pool tests.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05But with a PhD in physics, she spots a solution...
0:15:05 > 0:15:07- L.- OK. Yeah.- OK?
0:15:07 > 0:15:09L, upright. OK, we'll do that.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- No, no, no, no. L, flat.- Flat?
0:15:12 > 0:15:15..and quickly takes charge of the group.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17Flat on the floor, like an H.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19A gap on one side.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31- Does if fit the grey one? - Yeah, I see the next one.- Yeah, go.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38- You know you've put the stairs like this?- Yeah.
0:15:38 > 0:15:39You put it in opposite.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42- Come down with me. - I'll come down with you.- OK.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44Soon as you can.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46OK, what's next?
0:15:49 > 0:15:54She even manages to swim down to the cube to assess what still needs doing.
0:15:58 > 0:15:59How's that for teamwork?
0:15:59 > 0:16:02That's exactly the way I would have liked to see it.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Finished. Two minutes, five seconds remaining.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12- Good work, guys.- Everybody done? - Excellent work, team.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Excellent work, Jackie.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18- Thank you, Jackie. That was brilliant.- Yeah. Amazing.
0:16:18 > 0:16:23I was glad that it was something I could do in the pool. Oh!
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Well done, guys.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31I'm rubbish at those kind of puzzles, and I'm the first one to admit it,
0:16:31 > 0:16:34so Jackie said she knew how to do it - we couldn't have done it without her help.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37If all four of us were diving down, we wouldn't have done it. You were really good.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40Look at the smile!
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Yes! Yes, yes, yes!
0:16:42 > 0:16:44Happy with that.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46In order to be selected as an astronaut,
0:16:46 > 0:16:50candidates must prove that they are not only physically
0:16:50 > 0:16:53but psychologically suited to life in space.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Astronauts now spend up to a year in orbit,
0:16:58 > 0:17:02much of their time divided between maintaining the space station and
0:17:02 > 0:17:04performing scientific experiments.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08There are many tasks in space that can become monotonous over time, and
0:17:08 > 0:17:13it is important for an astronaut to be precise and attentive to detail.
0:17:13 > 0:17:17Psychologist Dr Iya Whiteley has worked with the European Space
0:17:17 > 0:17:22Agency to help astronauts cope with long duration missions.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24If candidates are impatient,
0:17:24 > 0:17:26they wouldn't be suited for the job in space,
0:17:26 > 0:17:28and they could put the mission at risk.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33Now she wants to assess the candidates with a test devised by
0:17:33 > 0:17:37the Japanese space agency, using origami.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45The original test involved making 1,000 paper birds,
0:17:45 > 0:17:47each as perfect as the last.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Mine look more like dragons, I think.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57- Oh, God.- Candidates have an hour to make as many birds as they can,
0:17:57 > 0:18:00while the panel assess their performances so far.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06What did you think of Kerry helping Jackie in the swim?
0:18:06 > 0:18:10I think that was a good move, because it is a team occupation.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12You have to be working together.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16Do you think it was a strategy or do you think it was a genuine response?
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Even if she was doing this for herself,
0:18:18 > 0:18:22to show that she's a good team player, that's fine.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25But she still helped, she still came in within the bracket of time,
0:18:25 > 0:18:26she didn't break any rules.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28I think that's good.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Any credible astronaut would have helped the person next to them,
0:18:31 > 0:18:35so kudos to Kerry, but at the same time...
0:18:35 > 0:18:39- Expected behaviour.- Expected behaviour. Let's talk Merritt.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42What did you think of the way she handled the cube assembly test?
0:18:42 > 0:18:44It was fascinating, wasn't it? Her group were having trouble.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47I think she knew that they weren't going to get there as a group,
0:18:47 > 0:18:50and she kind of went out on her own,
0:18:50 > 0:18:52I think doing what she thought was best for the team,
0:18:52 > 0:18:53but not being part of the team.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57If you look at the personality traits across all of our current
0:18:57 > 0:19:00candidates, she is the one to stand apart.
0:19:03 > 0:19:10The swim test confirmed some of our suspicions about Jackie's swimming ability.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Chris has asked to speak to Jackie.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21I thought she did an excellent job as the team leader for the cube
0:19:21 > 0:19:24- assembly test.- She was the secret of that team's success.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27She was clearly in control, knew exactly what needed to happen,
0:19:27 > 0:19:29and communicated it well enough.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40- Hi, Chris.- Hello, Jackie.- Hi.
0:19:42 > 0:19:48You are smart and brave, and capable.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51You have a PhD in theoretical physics...
0:19:52 > 0:19:56..and you have mastered so many skills to this point.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58But the unfortunate fact is, to be an astronaut,
0:19:58 > 0:20:00you have to know how to swim.
0:20:00 > 0:20:05It is a fundamental skill that is just a black-and-white requirement.
0:20:05 > 0:20:10Learn to swim and make that one more thing that's on the list of stuff
0:20:10 > 0:20:13that Jackie's good at. Your confidence will follow.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17But the selection process ends for you today.
0:20:17 > 0:20:18Good luck to you.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20- Thanks.- Thanks.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27The margin for error is getting smaller and smaller all the time.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30I think this is astronaut selection,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32so we are all being judged against each other,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35and obviously she's come along the furthest.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37But she's not where everybody else is yet.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Even though I'm sad to go, I am grateful for everything that I've
0:20:44 > 0:20:47got to do and to meet Chris. During the time that I've been here,
0:20:47 > 0:20:49I have learned a lot about myself.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55I do feel more confident,
0:20:55 > 0:20:58even though I have probably cried at every single test.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12The rest of the candidates have been working on their origami birds
0:21:12 > 0:21:15for the last hour.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18They're being assessed on both how many they've made and the accuracy
0:21:18 > 0:21:20of their folds.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23The results provide psychologist Iya with an insight
0:21:23 > 0:21:26into their personalities.
0:21:26 > 0:21:27This test was interesting.
0:21:27 > 0:21:33Kerry made ten cranes with her usual calmness and good precision.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35Is this your most recent?
0:21:35 > 0:21:37- Yeah.- Really nice. Look how sharp those wings are.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39That is good sharpness.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42Producing 11 means Tessa has made the most.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46She just immersed herself and was very engaged in the task.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49They are all very... Of a very similar quality.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51- They are good.- Thank you.
0:21:51 > 0:21:52You did a lot, too. Nice.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55I think Merritt's are really nice as well.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58Merritt made six, just about the middle of the pack.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02But it showed up a weakness in two of the candidates.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Vijay struggled, and he made just one.
0:22:06 > 0:22:11He just couldn't pass a certain fold.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13James has failed to make any.
0:22:14 > 0:22:19Clearly James struggled and he was not able to use that part of the brain.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23If someone's got five minutes, they could teach me how to do it,
0:22:23 > 0:22:25I'd be much appreciated.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27Origami was very useful for me,
0:22:27 > 0:22:31because I saw how they dealt with frustration,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34whether they paid enough attention to detail,
0:22:34 > 0:22:37are they able to follow a repetitive, monotonous task,
0:22:37 > 0:22:40and still do better every time?
0:22:48 > 0:22:52Since Nasa retired the shuttle in 2011,
0:22:52 > 0:22:56the only way for astronauts to reach the International Space Station
0:22:56 > 0:22:59has been on board the Russian Soyuz spacecraft...
0:23:02 > 0:23:06..which means that training for the trip and all in-flight procedures
0:23:06 > 0:23:08are conducted in Russian.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN
0:23:12 > 0:23:15When I was first hired as an astronaut, I spoke no Russian,
0:23:15 > 0:23:19and yet I went on to help build the Russian space station Mir,
0:23:19 > 0:23:21and to fly a Russian spaceship...
0:23:23 > 0:23:27..and operate in emergencies, in a language that was not my own.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29So as an astronaut candidate,
0:23:29 > 0:23:33you need to show an aptitude for other languages.
0:23:35 > 0:23:36Hello, everyone.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Iya and I come bearing gifts.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Chris and native Russian speaker Iya
0:23:41 > 0:23:45are sending the candidates home to work on a new assignment.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47What Iya has in her hand is homework.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49On these pieces of paper,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52there is a list of phrases in the Russian language,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55and we made a recording on these little MP3 players.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59Practice until you get your Russian letter-perfect.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Astronaut selection is one of the most competitive moments
0:24:03 > 0:24:05in your whole life.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07- Menya zovut.- Menya zovut.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11You have to always be striving to get better at this thing
0:24:11 > 0:24:12than you were yesterday.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16THEY SPEAK RUSSIAN
0:24:29 > 0:24:30Thank you.
0:24:31 > 0:24:36The candidates have just three days to learn as much Russian as they can.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Preparation is everything.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42In order to succeed as an astronaut, preparation is key.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52Kak dela - how are you?
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Otlichno - great.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02I'm going to have to be like someone who has taken this block
0:25:02 > 0:25:06of marble - if I just keep chipping away at myself...
0:25:06 > 0:25:09THEY SPEAK RUSSIAN
0:25:09 > 0:25:15..sculpt myself into something that might be suitable to
0:25:15 > 0:25:18have somebody trust me to fly a spaceship.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20RUSSIAN SPEECH ON TAPE
0:25:26 > 0:25:27This way.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30And that's the type of person we need -
0:25:30 > 0:25:36who has had a relentless lifelong drive to improve who they are?
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Legs is nogi - that's both of them.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44- Yeah.- Noga is one.
0:25:44 > 0:25:45Well done. Excellent.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48For commercial airline pilot Tessa,
0:25:48 > 0:25:51this is another step towards achieving a childhood dream.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54I've wanted to be an astronaut since I was about ten years old.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00This was your first attempt at landing on the moon.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02- Yeah.- You remember?
0:26:02 > 0:26:05So I used to talk about being an astronaut all the time as a kid.
0:26:05 > 0:26:06You did.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10I said to the teacher I wanted be an astronaut.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14She basically laughed and said, "Don't be silly, you can't be that."
0:26:14 > 0:26:16So I was like, "Right, I'll be a pilot."
0:26:16 > 0:26:18"You can't be that either, that's a man's job."
0:26:21 > 0:26:22It made me more determined.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27I went and did a masters degree in astrophysics.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32And then I did close-protection security work in order to save
0:26:32 > 0:26:34to be a pilot.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39All those boundaries that people put up and said, you can't do it...
0:26:41 > 0:26:44..this is me actually achieving it and showing everyone, actually, you can.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52For the next stage of advanced selection,
0:26:52 > 0:26:55the astronaut candidates are heading abroad.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58A taxi is coming to pick me up in about three hours to take me to the
0:26:58 > 0:27:00airport, to go who knows where.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Their destination is Cologne in Germany.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09But they have no idea what tests lie ahead.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12- TAPE:- Arms, ruki.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Legs, nogi.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23Welcome to Cologne. That was a seven out of ten for that landing.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31- TAPE:- Good morning - dobroye utro.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37The candidates have come to the German space centre, the DLR.
0:27:42 > 0:27:47This state-of-the-art facility is a hub for European space research.
0:27:47 > 0:27:4920 second stress test.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52Astronauts from all over the world come here to train.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59Nicely said. That was beautiful.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03Welcome. I came here during my astronaut training many times,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06not just to learn about the science of space flight,
0:28:06 > 0:28:09but also to train and prepare for space flight itself.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12Once you actually get into orbit, of course,
0:28:12 > 0:28:16the time to train and learn a new skill is almost zero.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20You have to somehow gain all of your skills here on Earth.
0:28:20 > 0:28:25We need you to demonstrate today that you have the aptitude to gain
0:28:25 > 0:28:28these skills, so the stakes are high.
0:28:31 > 0:28:36Few outside the astronaut corps ever get the chance to train at this facility.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38The gravity of this place...
0:28:38 > 0:28:41You know, it's made such an impression on me.
0:28:46 > 0:28:47This is where they train astronauts.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49You know, Tim Peake has actually been here.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52Chris has trained here. It's where they do it.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59First stop for the candidates is the facility's vestibular lab.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05Space agencies prepare astronauts for missions by submitting them to
0:29:05 > 0:29:11different stresses which mimic the physiological effects of being in space.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16The vestibular system is a very important and quite complicated system,
0:29:16 > 0:29:20it is how you know where you are in the world, what your orientation is,
0:29:20 > 0:29:22and how you're moving.
0:29:25 > 0:29:30In space, weightlessness does interfere with your sense of balance and coordination.
0:29:31 > 0:29:36Today, the candidates will be spun in the lab's rotating chair
0:29:36 > 0:29:40used to help astronauts train for space adaptation syndrome,
0:29:40 > 0:29:42or space motion sickness.
0:29:42 > 0:29:45- Dobryy den.- Dobryy den.- Hello.- Hey.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48First they are given a simple baseline test
0:29:48 > 0:29:51used by space agencies to measure manual dexterity.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54For each task, 30 seconds.
0:29:54 > 0:29:55- Ready?- Ready.
0:29:55 > 0:29:56And go.
0:29:57 > 0:30:02As many pegs as possible must be placed in the holes within 30 seconds.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05The test is performed first with the dominant hand,
0:30:05 > 0:30:08then the non-dominant hand.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10And go.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12Then both hands together.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17- Please have a seat. - After being rotated in the chair,
0:30:17 > 0:30:21the test will be repeated to see what effect a stressed vestibular
0:30:21 > 0:30:23system has on their performance.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28Being sat in a chair where astronauts have actually sat and trained is such a privilege.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31Hopefully I don't dirty it with my vomit.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33Please start spinning now.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45What this chair does is produce something called sensory conflict.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49It gives their eyes and their inner ear - the organs of balance -
0:30:49 > 0:30:53conflicting inputs, and so that's quite hard to cope with.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57Any candidate unable to perform effectively after spinning
0:30:57 > 0:31:00in the chair could be sent home.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03The chair starts spinning quite slowly, and so I thought,
0:31:03 > 0:31:05"OK, this isn't so bad."
0:31:08 > 0:31:10And then it just gradually accelerates until it's going
0:31:10 > 0:31:12quite fast, and I can't see anyone or anything,
0:31:12 > 0:31:14it is just all blurring past my eyes.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18Keep the whole time the eyes, please, open.
0:31:18 > 0:31:19OK.
0:31:21 > 0:31:23Tilt your head forward.
0:31:24 > 0:31:29- Backwards.- Closely scrutinising the candidates is psychologist Iya.
0:31:29 > 0:31:30And down.
0:31:32 > 0:31:34How are you feeling, Tim?
0:31:34 > 0:31:35Feeling a bit clammy.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41This test is not an attempt to make them sick.
0:31:41 > 0:31:46This is beginning to simulate what it's like to have disturbed sense
0:31:46 > 0:31:47of balance and coordination.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52What we want to do is give them a sense of what that feels like,
0:31:52 > 0:31:54then see how they perform afterwards.
0:31:59 > 0:32:02I'm hoping that maybe the dance training will come
0:32:02 > 0:32:05in handy, cos we have to be, like, super spatially aware.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10Merritt has a unique skill set,
0:32:10 > 0:32:12combining studying for a PhD
0:32:12 > 0:32:14in quantum physics at Oxford University...
0:32:16 > 0:32:19..with professional ballet dancing.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22You are rotating as well as trying to stay balanced,
0:32:22 > 0:32:25and moving in a certain direction.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29I'd feel really, really stupid if I messed this up.
0:32:29 > 0:32:30And stop.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36While still feeling the effects of the chair...
0:32:36 > 0:32:38And start.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40..the candidates repeat the pegboard test.
0:32:46 > 0:32:47Stop.
0:32:51 > 0:32:52With both. Go.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58I was really worried, but it was mind over matter.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00It was just like, I have got to get these pegs in the hole.
0:33:07 > 0:33:08Stop. OK.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12Merritt has managed not only to match her score,
0:33:12 > 0:33:13but to improve on it.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15Thank you.
0:33:15 > 0:33:16Mission completed.
0:33:18 > 0:33:19Go.
0:33:26 > 0:33:27And stop.
0:33:31 > 0:33:32And start.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37No matter what's happening in a space flight,
0:33:37 > 0:33:40there's always the next task, the next job.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42Even if you are feeling nauseous,
0:33:42 > 0:33:45you have to be ready to throw the switches or check the pressurisation
0:33:45 > 0:33:47or whatever is required.
0:33:50 > 0:33:51And stop.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56So what we're evaluating the candidates on is how well can they
0:33:56 > 0:34:00focus and control themselves to do this same task.
0:34:00 > 0:34:04So far, all the candidates have completed the test without a
0:34:04 > 0:34:07significant difference in their scores.
0:34:07 > 0:34:08Stop.
0:34:09 > 0:34:11My performance wasn't affected too much.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13I wouldn't fancy staying in there for 30 minutes,
0:34:13 > 0:34:15but three were all right.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19Kerry had the highest baseline score.
0:34:23 > 0:34:24And stop.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28But hers is the biggest differential in the retest so far.
0:34:28 > 0:34:32It is interesting that Kerry's performance has been affected by the chair.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36Surprising, given Kerry's RAF background.
0:34:36 > 0:34:37Thank you.
0:34:38 > 0:34:40The pressure's on for everybody.
0:34:40 > 0:34:42I don't think you ever feel completely safe.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45I think all of us are always in danger,
0:34:45 > 0:34:48it seems like we're always only one task away from going home.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55Last to take the test is James.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57- Have a seat.- Thank you.
0:34:58 > 0:35:01He is particularly concerned about his performance.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06I have only got one vestibular nerve, I'm missing the right one completely,
0:35:06 > 0:35:09which is why I've got this lovely piece of ear jewellery now.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13I've got only one input saying which way I am in terms of my verticality.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21Can it land on top? Shall I move the aerial over...?
0:35:21 > 0:35:26In 2002, my wife thought I was ignoring her a bit more than usual,
0:35:26 > 0:35:28and said maybe I've got a problem with my hearing.
0:35:28 > 0:35:32This one was for the moon buggy to see if anything was wrong.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36I had a scan and unfortunately it turned out I had an acoustic neuroma,
0:35:36 > 0:35:40which is a benign tumour growing inside my skull.
0:35:40 > 0:35:41Oh, no!
0:35:41 > 0:35:44That was then removed in 2004.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47I lost my balance, I had no control of balance on my right-hand side.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50It was quite frightening. But I'm very much a sort of, well,
0:35:50 > 0:35:53this is the problem, this is the solution,
0:35:53 > 0:35:55we'll deal with it and we'll move forward.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57That goes here. Yeah.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00- We've got a space shuttle.- Yeah.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02Zoom!
0:36:05 > 0:36:09Keep your eyes completely open during the test.
0:36:09 > 0:36:12Put your head back, OK, and start spinning.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20It's going to be interesting to see how James copes with this.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23There is damage to the nerve there that transmits signals from the
0:36:23 > 0:36:25inner ear onwards to the brain,
0:36:25 > 0:36:28and so his sense of balance will probably also be affected,
0:36:28 > 0:36:31so he may have a problem with this test.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35If he can't cope with the physical stresses of space,
0:36:35 > 0:36:39James's chances of selection will disappear.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41Now tilt your head to the left.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47My sole purpose is to get to the end of today and still be in this process.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51Three, two, stop.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03Starting now.
0:37:11 > 0:37:12And stop.
0:37:14 > 0:37:15Go.
0:37:19 > 0:37:20Stop.
0:37:21 > 0:37:22Go.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30And stop.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33Even though he has only one vestibular nerve,
0:37:33 > 0:37:35James, too, beats his score.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37See you later.
0:37:37 > 0:37:39THEY SPEAK RUSSIAN
0:37:41 > 0:37:44I don't feel my hearing loss has held me back in this process.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46I'm chuffed to bits, to be honest, that it hasn't.
0:37:46 > 0:37:50I feel like I'm on a level playing field with the rest of the candidates.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54He is operating with one nerve functioning correctly.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58I haven't seen a difference in comparison to other candidates.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01Every time we think it's going to be a factor for him, it's not a factor. You know,
0:38:01 > 0:38:04at every point where you think his hearing impairment or this poor
0:38:04 > 0:38:08vestibular sense in one ear is going to hurt him, it doesn't seem to hurt him.
0:38:23 > 0:38:27One of the most critical moments of any space flight
0:38:27 > 0:38:30is when the astronauts must dock the ship they've left Earth in...
0:38:32 > 0:38:35..with the craft that they are travelling to.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40During my first space flight,
0:38:40 > 0:38:45we were going to go up and dock with the Russian space station, Mir.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48Docking in a way no-one had ever docked before.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51This was still very new back in 1995.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58And when we got ten metres away, all of our equipment let us down.
0:38:58 > 0:39:02OK, Houston, we have the data and we are about to start the manoeuvre.
0:39:02 > 0:39:07We were now faced with an unexpected situation,
0:39:07 > 0:39:09but with no-one there to fix it but us.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14Fortunately we had practised like crazy in every simulator
0:39:14 > 0:39:16we could think of.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18Four inches...
0:39:19 > 0:39:23We hit the target almost perfectly on time,
0:39:23 > 0:39:28and at just the right closing speed so it would not break all of Mir.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32- Look how close that thing is! - That sucker is right there.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36Suddenly we looked around and realised we had done it.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40- Nice job.- Good job, man.- Well done.
0:39:40 > 0:39:43And purely the result of practising for things to go wrong.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49Today's astronauts have to dock the Russian Soyuz capsule with
0:39:49 > 0:39:51the International Space Station.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54The range rate is -0.14.
0:39:57 > 0:40:01It takes years to train for this dangerous and complex manoeuvre.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07Now the candidates are about to attempt it themselves.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12Things are about to get harder.
0:40:13 > 0:40:18We're going to now continue your assessment in a Soyuz simulator
0:40:18 > 0:40:21to dock with the International Space Station.
0:40:23 > 0:40:28There are computers onboard that do a lot of the manoeuvring,
0:40:28 > 0:40:31but they fail.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34In fact they fail about one time out of five.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40During my first space flight and my third space flight,
0:40:40 > 0:40:41and during Tim Peake's flight,
0:40:41 > 0:40:44we had to do manual dockings with the space station.
0:40:44 > 0:40:48You always have to be ready to take over and dock.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50Everything is on the line.
0:40:50 > 0:40:54If you get it wrong, you can kill everybody on the space station.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59The stakes couldn't be higher.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01And the only thing that can save it...
0:41:02 > 0:41:03..is you.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06Good luck and fly well.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14The test we've got ahead of us is I think what I call a going home
0:41:14 > 0:41:18test. You make a hash of this, you are going home if you epically fail,
0:41:18 > 0:41:21so it is just trying to not epically fail at what we've got to do.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26First to attempt to dock the Soyuz is Merritt.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29- Hello, Merritt. - Before the test starts,
0:41:29 > 0:41:32each candidate will have some instruction from Chris...
0:41:32 > 0:41:34SPEAKS RUSSIAN
0:41:34 > 0:41:37..who has first-hand experience of docking the capsule.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40I am so nervous about this task.
0:41:40 > 0:41:45I have to be super focused and try to pick it up as quickly as I can.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48Welcome to your Soyuz simulator.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50- Supercool.- Cool.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59The candidates will be aiming for a docking point located on the end
0:41:59 > 0:42:00of the space station.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06In this simulation the ISS is represented by a cylinder and
0:42:06 > 0:42:09the docking port by a cross on the end.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14- ASTRONAUT:- The final few feet prior to contact and capture.
0:42:14 > 0:42:19On a real space flight, astronauts use crosses to align the two ships...
0:42:19 > 0:42:22Crosshairs are aligned.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24..and so must Merritt.
0:42:24 > 0:42:28If the angle is perfect, the black cross covers the red.
0:42:28 > 0:42:32This is exactly the same as the target that we have on the space station.
0:42:32 > 0:42:33It's called an offset cross.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36If you were perfectly lined up you would just see the black, OK?
0:42:38 > 0:42:40- Any questions?- I think...
0:42:40 > 0:42:43- I think I'm good.- OK, so, whenever you're ready just push that little
0:42:43 > 0:42:44toggle lever and it will begin.
0:42:47 > 0:42:52The candidates have ten minutes to approach and successfully dock
0:42:52 > 0:42:54with the space station.
0:42:54 > 0:42:58It's really hard but they have to be able to pick it up and
0:42:58 > 0:43:02be good at it quickly enough so that we can train them in the time
0:43:02 > 0:43:03that's available.
0:43:03 > 0:43:05HE SPEAKS RUSSIAN
0:43:07 > 0:43:09To add to the complexity of the test,
0:43:09 > 0:43:12Chris is issuing key instructions in Russian...
0:43:15 > 0:43:18..checking that the candidates can translate,
0:43:18 > 0:43:22perform and respond as they would need to on a real Soyuz mission.
0:43:24 > 0:43:25But what's happening here?
0:43:27 > 0:43:31OK, I am too high so I need to move down.
0:43:31 > 0:43:33Speed there of a tenth of a metre per second.
0:43:33 > 0:43:34There is your distance.
0:43:35 > 0:43:37- Metres.- Yes.
0:43:37 > 0:43:39- OK?- I probably need to go a bit faster initially.
0:43:39 > 0:43:41I am not going to tell you how, I'll just tell you what.
0:43:41 > 0:43:42OK.
0:43:44 > 0:43:45Five minutes left.
0:43:46 > 0:43:50Yeah, I can feel that with practice I can get there. I just don't
0:43:50 > 0:43:52have time to practise. I have to do it.
0:43:52 > 0:43:53I have to nail it the first time.
0:43:58 > 0:44:00I feel like I've been pushing this for quite a while.
0:44:00 > 0:44:03Yeah, you are disappearing off the view, so...
0:44:03 > 0:44:07The closer they are to docking, the more sensitive the controls.
0:44:07 > 0:44:11So the smallest adjustments have dramatic effects.
0:44:11 > 0:44:14You're separating like you're driving away at 0.3,
0:44:14 > 0:44:16and you are almost 100 metres away.
0:44:17 > 0:44:21Every correction is sending Merritt further off course.
0:44:22 > 0:44:25So you have a big sideways problem.
0:44:28 > 0:44:29Two minutes remaining.
0:44:32 > 0:44:36You might want to point at it so you don't lose sight of it.
0:44:36 > 0:44:38You are going down on your control.
0:44:38 > 0:44:40- You need to go up.- Oh, God.
0:44:43 > 0:44:46One minute remaining.
0:44:46 > 0:44:4730 seconds.
0:44:50 > 0:44:51Ten seconds.
0:44:52 > 0:44:54Time.
0:44:54 > 0:44:59Time's up and Merritt's still 23 metres from the target.
0:44:59 > 0:45:01So...
0:45:01 > 0:45:04- You didn't dock. - My brain's just, like, hurting!
0:45:05 > 0:45:09Merritt had a lot of difficulty flying the spaceship today.
0:45:13 > 0:45:16She had just no idea what she was doing.
0:45:16 > 0:45:20She spent nine minutes just sort of floundering around trying to figure
0:45:20 > 0:45:21out what anything did.
0:45:21 > 0:45:23- Thank you.- Thank you.- Thanks.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28I'm so frustrated, I want to do it again now.
0:45:32 > 0:45:34Cos... It's...
0:45:34 > 0:45:37You do one wrong move, and you're just...
0:45:37 > 0:45:41And it's haywire to get it back.
0:45:41 > 0:45:44I was freaking all over the place. I was here, there and everywhere,
0:45:44 > 0:45:46a little bit like Dory in Finding Nemo.
0:45:46 > 0:45:48Just like, "Where am I going?"
0:45:48 > 0:45:49This way? That way?
0:45:49 > 0:45:52I do not want to get thrown out yet.
0:45:52 > 0:45:54I hope I did well enough to stay in.
0:45:58 > 0:46:03One of the biggest challenges in docking is controlling the speed of approach.
0:46:03 > 0:46:06We want you to dock with the space station going at an exact speed.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09That speed is one tenth of a metre per second.
0:46:09 > 0:46:13Hit the target a fraction too slowly, and they will fail to dock.
0:46:15 > 0:46:17Three minutes remaining.
0:46:17 > 0:46:20Instead, bouncing off the space station.
0:46:22 > 0:46:26But hit it a fraction too fast and they could critically damage
0:46:26 > 0:46:29the ISS, killing everyone inside.
0:46:34 > 0:46:3690 seconds left.
0:46:37 > 0:46:39Right there, come on.
0:46:41 > 0:46:42One minute remaining.
0:46:44 > 0:46:46With less than a minute to go,
0:46:46 > 0:46:51both Suzie and Vijay are within 15 metres of the target.
0:46:51 > 0:46:54Make sure you don't hit the station too hard.
0:46:54 > 0:46:5630 seconds.
0:46:56 > 0:46:58Don't let it disappear from your field of view.
0:46:58 > 0:46:59- I'm trying not to.- So turn.
0:47:05 > 0:47:07- Ten seconds. - Oh, I am right coming into line.
0:47:12 > 0:47:14Time's up.
0:47:14 > 0:47:16Suzie has failed to dock,
0:47:16 > 0:47:18ending up eight metres from the target.
0:47:20 > 0:47:21Three seconds.
0:47:23 > 0:47:26Vijay also fails to dock,
0:47:26 > 0:47:30but comes closer at just two metres short of the target.
0:47:30 > 0:47:32- Thanks very much.- Thank you.
0:47:32 > 0:47:37It's a really hard test. I'm still a bit kind of shaking from it, just from the amount of adrenaline.
0:47:37 > 0:47:38- Thank you so much.- Thanks.
0:47:40 > 0:47:44I thought beforehand I had the capacity to really make a terrible job of it.
0:47:44 > 0:47:47But what I didn't do is crash into the space station
0:47:47 > 0:47:50and kill everyone on board, so that's got to be a plus.
0:47:54 > 0:47:55Three minutes remaining.
0:47:56 > 0:48:00As an RAF pilot, Kerry is used to training in simulators.
0:48:02 > 0:48:05Everybody has got their sights set on winning,
0:48:05 > 0:48:08and as the process is going on, it makes my desire to get to the end
0:48:08 > 0:48:11- even more. - With two minutes to spare...
0:48:11 > 0:48:134.9 metres and ready to dock.
0:48:13 > 0:48:16..Kerry becomes the first person to dock successfully.
0:48:18 > 0:48:19Complete.
0:48:19 > 0:48:21- Nice job.- Thank you.
0:48:21 > 0:48:24I think that should have been one of my strong points.
0:48:24 > 0:48:26I would have been pretty gutted if I'd messed it up.
0:48:28 > 0:48:30But I was still within my comfort zone.
0:48:30 > 0:48:32Hey, guys.
0:48:32 > 0:48:34Hey.
0:48:34 > 0:48:36Yeah, I'm OK, survived.
0:48:36 > 0:48:38The mission objective was to dock the Soyuz
0:48:38 > 0:48:40and that's what I was aiming for.
0:48:41 > 0:48:45If you haven't managed to dock it, then I'd say that's not a success.
0:48:45 > 0:48:48It's intimidating - Chris is sitting right next to you.
0:48:48 > 0:48:50I'm like...
0:48:50 > 0:48:51Actually, it's not too bad.
0:48:51 > 0:48:54But, yeah! He's just watching you.
0:48:54 > 0:48:57You can feel his breath and you're like, "Don't mess up!"
0:48:57 > 0:48:59Good luck, Tim. Don't smash it.
0:49:02 > 0:49:05- Wow.- Hello, Tim.- Hey, Chris. - Come in, have a seat.- Thank you.
0:49:05 > 0:49:08- Nice to see you.- Welcome to your Soyuz simulator.
0:49:08 > 0:49:11- Wow.- Unlike Kerry,
0:49:11 > 0:49:15neither cosmo-chemist Tim or secondary school teacher James
0:49:15 > 0:49:17have any experience of a simulator.
0:49:19 > 0:49:21If I completely muck it up, I expect I'll feel awful,
0:49:21 > 0:49:22cos I expect I'll be going home.
0:49:24 > 0:49:26Wrong way, wrong way, James.
0:49:29 > 0:49:32100 years ago you needed to be an expert to go in an aeroplane,
0:49:32 > 0:49:34but now anybody can do it and I think that's where space exploration
0:49:34 > 0:49:38- is heading.- Inside four minutes for docking.
0:49:38 > 0:49:41Thanks, Chris. I don't think it will reach that level in my lifetime,
0:49:41 > 0:49:44so if I'm going to ever go up to space I will have to know the skills
0:49:44 > 0:49:45of how to fly these machines.
0:49:52 > 0:49:53I'm trying.
0:49:54 > 0:49:55Two minutes remaining.
0:49:58 > 0:50:02Maintaining a near-perfect alignment throughout...
0:50:02 > 0:50:04One minute remaining.
0:50:04 > 0:50:07..Tim is the second person to successfully dock the Soyuz.
0:50:10 > 0:50:12With 40 seconds left.
0:50:12 > 0:50:16You, sir, just flew a Soyuz simulator and docked with a space station.
0:50:16 > 0:50:19That was amazing. I thought I was doing the real thing for a second.
0:50:25 > 0:50:27You've got five minutes left.
0:50:27 > 0:50:29After a confident approach from James...
0:50:29 > 0:50:32You could dock early if you want.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34..he docks successfully,
0:50:34 > 0:50:35with four minutes to spare.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37Docking.
0:50:37 > 0:50:39The fastest time so far.
0:50:44 > 0:50:48When I came in to this I had no idea I would be so good at these type of tests,
0:50:48 > 0:50:51so I'm really happy that I am, cos this to me is like proper astronaut stuff,
0:50:51 > 0:50:54this and the Mars Rover is proper astronaut stuff and I'm quite good
0:50:54 > 0:50:56at the proper astronaut stuff so far.
0:50:58 > 0:51:00Last up is Tessa.
0:51:00 > 0:51:02- Come on in, Tessa. How are you? - Like Kerry,
0:51:02 > 0:51:06a pilot who has had many hours of training in simulators.
0:51:06 > 0:51:07I'm really excited.
0:51:07 > 0:51:10I get to get taught by an astronaut how to fly the Soyuz,
0:51:10 > 0:51:13so this is like my dream come true.
0:51:13 > 0:51:14Are you ready?
0:51:14 > 0:51:17- Da.- Begin.
0:51:17 > 0:51:19I think my 3-D spatial awareness is pretty good,
0:51:19 > 0:51:22so hopefully it does play on my strengths.
0:51:27 > 0:51:28Oh, wonky.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33Be patient and it gets sensitive when you get close.
0:51:33 > 0:51:35Floating away. Not good.
0:51:36 > 0:51:40So, you can see looking at the whole space station that you're low
0:51:40 > 0:51:41- right now, right?- Yeah, very low.
0:51:41 > 0:51:43So you need to go up.
0:51:44 > 0:51:47- Watch your speed. - Speed, yep, reducing.
0:51:47 > 0:51:50- Now coming up. - Yeah, so counteract it.
0:51:50 > 0:51:52So, what is your speed doing right now?
0:51:52 > 0:51:54My speed is 1.2.
0:51:54 > 0:51:57- Going away.- Away. - Right, so you need to go in.
0:51:57 > 0:51:58Cos right now you're opening.
0:51:58 > 0:52:02You're flying away at 1.4 metres a second.
0:52:05 > 0:52:07Tessa got wildly out of position.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10The engines were firing and firing and firing,
0:52:10 > 0:52:13and she didn't see that her speed was getting out of control.
0:52:13 > 0:52:16And then she had to fight it and slow it down.
0:52:16 > 0:52:18And now solve angles and fly in.
0:52:18 > 0:52:1990 seconds remaining.
0:52:27 > 0:52:28Ten seconds.
0:52:31 > 0:52:35Tessa's time is up and she has failed to dock,
0:52:35 > 0:52:37finishing over 20 metres from the target -
0:52:37 > 0:52:40one of the worst performances of the day.
0:52:40 > 0:52:42I'm kicking myself for not docking it.
0:52:42 > 0:52:46I feel like I may be in a more vulnerable position now.
0:52:46 > 0:52:49- Thanks, Tessa.- Thank you. I'm not too sure where I sit
0:52:49 > 0:52:51within the group at the moment.
0:52:54 > 0:52:56So no-one crashed into the International Space Station?
0:52:56 > 0:52:58- No.- And no-one threw up.
0:52:58 > 0:53:01- Yeah.- This has been a good day.
0:53:05 > 0:53:09I got to see all seven in the spacecraft docking test.
0:53:09 > 0:53:13For Vijay and Suzie, they were sort of average.
0:53:13 > 0:53:16They did OK. Kerry did a good, competent job.
0:53:16 > 0:53:18She got it docked.
0:53:18 > 0:53:23Tim and James, they almost taught a lesson in how to do that,
0:53:23 > 0:53:29but for Merritt and for Tessa, this was a really difficult test.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35Tessa had a lot of trouble,
0:53:35 > 0:53:37constantly overshooting to one side.
0:53:37 > 0:53:42It was like a war against this machine to try and get it under control.
0:53:42 > 0:53:44I don't want to go home.
0:53:44 > 0:53:47I'm realistic that I'm one of the four that didn't dock it.
0:53:48 > 0:53:50I hope Chris sees that I have what I have in me.
0:53:53 > 0:53:58Watching Merritt, she would have one hand in the air while she was
0:53:58 > 0:54:00operating the other hand controller.
0:54:00 > 0:54:04It would be like watching someone get into a car and not realise that
0:54:04 > 0:54:06you needed to hold on to the steering wheel while you're driving
0:54:06 > 0:54:09- down the road.- It's not that only a very small number of people can do
0:54:09 > 0:54:12all these skills, it's only a very small number can take on all these
0:54:12 > 0:54:15skills as quickly as they need to take them on to make the programme
0:54:15 > 0:54:18of training tractable in the time that you've got.
0:54:18 > 0:54:19There is nothing I can do.
0:54:19 > 0:54:23I think I'm mostly just frustrated with my performance.
0:54:23 > 0:54:25My fate is in Chris's hands.
0:54:25 > 0:54:26We'll have to see.
0:54:27 > 0:54:31Just so tough, because it's such a high bar, such a high level.
0:54:31 > 0:54:35We don't know at the end of the day what the most important thing is in terms of...
0:54:35 > 0:54:39I think the Soyuz will be the main thing that they are going to be judging it on.
0:54:41 > 0:54:44I find Tessa is able to learn systematically.
0:54:45 > 0:54:48With Merritt it's sort of like trial and error.
0:54:51 > 0:54:55Those two styles are very different,
0:54:55 > 0:54:58and I'm thinking one of them would be more successful for an astronaut.
0:55:05 > 0:55:06- Hello, Merritt.- Hi.
0:55:08 > 0:55:11Your spacecraft docking test did not go well.
0:55:14 > 0:55:15How do you think you did?
0:55:16 > 0:55:20I was obviously disappointed that I didn't dock.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23There were people that flew it significantly better than you did.
0:55:25 > 0:55:29At the end where the time expired, you were still nowhere near docking.
0:55:31 > 0:55:33The tests only get harder from here on in.
0:55:35 > 0:55:37In the astronaut office,
0:55:37 > 0:55:42we need people who master the skill as fast as possible.
0:55:43 > 0:55:47Who have a proven ability to quickly grasp it.
0:55:49 > 0:55:54So unfortunately your astronaut selection process ends today.
0:55:58 > 0:56:02I do really appreciate this and I understand.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05I wish you enormous success, both in your PhD
0:56:05 > 0:56:08and in all things that are going to follow from that.
0:56:08 > 0:56:10- Thank you very much. - Thank you.- Thanks.
0:56:15 > 0:56:19But I could see your learning curve,
0:56:19 > 0:56:23and so we are not sending you home today.
0:56:23 > 0:56:27But I want you to re-evaluate something.
0:56:27 > 0:56:31I don't want you to think of yourself as, you know,
0:56:31 > 0:56:34just lucky to be able to fly a Soyuz simulator,
0:56:34 > 0:56:41but to realise that you have out-flown your past.
0:56:41 > 0:56:43Make that part of who you are.
0:56:44 > 0:56:46- All right?- I will. Thank you.
0:56:46 > 0:56:49Thank you very much, Tessa.
0:56:52 > 0:56:54I'm not going home.
0:57:00 > 0:57:01- Hey.- How are you doing?
0:57:02 > 0:57:04I'm good. I spoke to Chris.
0:57:07 > 0:57:12Basically I need to really be more confident in myself.
0:57:12 > 0:57:15Keep telling yourself you can do it and try and believe in yourself.
0:57:15 > 0:57:17Yeah, exactly.
0:57:17 > 0:57:19Get rid of that impostor syndrome.
0:57:23 > 0:57:26I do understand that it's how you perform,
0:57:26 > 0:57:30so when he was like I was the worst one on that,
0:57:30 > 0:57:32it was kind of, like, fair enough.
0:57:38 > 0:57:40My dream of being an astronaut is not over.
0:57:40 > 0:57:42I'd say it's kind of just the beginning,
0:57:42 > 0:57:45like I've now experienced all these really cool things,
0:57:45 > 0:57:47I want to do more.
0:57:47 > 0:57:50This is, you know, something that I want to do.
0:57:57 > 0:58:01Just six astronaut candidates have made it through to the next stage of
0:58:01 > 0:58:07advanced testing, but for them the selection process is about to get tougher still.
0:58:08 > 0:58:11This is a human centrifuge.
0:58:11 > 0:58:15The candidates head to a secret space facility,
0:58:15 > 0:58:19and face a test with life or death consequences.
0:58:19 > 0:58:20Really plummeting right now.
0:58:20 > 0:58:23Oxygen failure, oxygen failure, oxygen failure.