Before blasting off into space, Russian cosmonauts practice at a special training facility in Zvyozdny Gorodok (Star City). The facility includes a full-scale mock-up of Russia’s segment of the International Space Station – the Zvezda service module, the Zarya cargo block and the Pirs docking compartment.

The Zvezda service module is the centerpiece of Russia’s segment. Cosmonauts spend 90% of their time in this module as it houses the control systems. They also eat and rest in the Zvezda module.