Work Continues on Russian “Challenge” ISS Movie Project

MOSCOW (Roscosmos PR) — The working meeting on the implementation of the scientific and educational project “Challenge” was held today, December 24, 2021, at the CPC under the leadership of Maxim Ovchinnikov, First Deputy General Director of the State Corporation “Roscosmos”.

The issues of further work on the project were discussed, which includes documentary, scientific and educational, information programs, as well as the feature film “Challenge”. Representatives of the leadership of Roscosmos, CTC and Channel One discussed a number of organizational issues.

“By implementing the Challenge project, we have tested our competencies and now we know that we will be able to quickly and efficiently prepare crews for the implementation of target projects. For example, to ensure the dispatch of scientific expeditions to the ISS and prepare scientists for the flight who will be able to conduct experiments themselves. Moreover, the Science module made it possible to expand the area of ​​the Russian segment of the station, “said Maxim Ovchinnikov, First Deputy General Director of the State Corporation Roscosmos.

It was announced at the meeting that the CPC was able to prepare the main and backup crews for the flight in a short time. The intensity of the process was very high. It was a challenge not only for the artists, but also for the cosmonauts, as well as for the specialists of the CTC. It was noted that everyone coped with their tasks, and the Center acquired the necessary experience in training space flight participants in 3.5 – 4 months.

“We are getting ready for a film set to be deployed on the territory of the CTC and work on the film“ Challenge ”will continue in the spring, – said the head of the CTC Maxim Kharlamov.

The main task is to ensure that the training and filming processes are carried out at the proper level. The astronauts must be able to prepare for flights in the required mode, and the Challenge team must work on the film.

A little later, actress Yulia Peresild joined the workshop participants, who, together with film director Klim Shipenko and the ISS crew, worked on the Challenge project directly in space. Their stunt doubles also came to the meeting: cameraman Alexei Dudin and actress Alena Mordovina. The backup crew at the event was in full force, their commander, Oleg Artemiev, joined his wards.

The main crew was represented by Yulia Peresild and cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky, with whom the film group returned to Earth from the space expedition, which took place from 5 to 17 October 2021.

In the twelve days that Klim Shipenko and Yulia Peresild spent in orbit, they managed to fully realize their plans and complete the shooting for that part of the future film, the action of which is developing in space.

Today the warmest words of gratitude for their work were addressed to the staff of the CTC, who took part in the training of the film crew, and the ceremony of their awarding took place.

“I am very glad to see you. In this place, now not a stranger to me, there are so many people who want to say thank you, ” Yulia Peresild turned to the specialists of the CTC. “Your kind attitude towards us played no less a role than the knowledge and skills that we acquired here”.

“Thanks to everyone who prepared the film crews for the flight in such a short time – this is a real feat,” said cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky . “The quality of training is the highest, Klim and Yulia were able to start active work at the station almost immediately. Special thanks to the courageous understudies who have constantly supported us.”

Alena Mordovina, Alexey Dudin and Oleg Artemiev joined the words of gratitude to the Center’s specialists.