Expedition 40/41 prime crew during winter survival training

Russian cosmonaut Max Suraev (left), ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst and Reid Wiseman of NASA (right) take part in winter survival training near Star City, Russia, on 23 January 2013.

Survival training is an important part of all Soyuz mission training. There is always the possibility that a Soyuz spacecraft could land in a remote, cold area. All astronauts have to learn to survive in harsh climates while waiting for rescue.

Alexander Gerst is flight engineer for Expedition 40/41, which will be launched to the Station in May 2014 on a long-duration mission to run science experiments and maintain humankind’s space base.