Russian cosmonaut Tikhonov headlines KCG Science Festival in Chennai

Russian test cosmonaut Nikolai Tikhonov told students at The Science Festival India 2026 in Chennai that space exploration demands exceptional mental resilience and physical endurance beyond technical expertise. The festival was hosted by KCG College of Technology with support from Russia's Rosatom.

Russian test cosmonaut Nikolai Tikhonov delivered a lecture titled 'Space Is Calling' at The Science Festival India 2026, hosted by KCG College of Technology in Chennai on October 21. His central message: human spaceflight requires not just scientific knowledge but emotional stability, quick reflexes, sound judgement and the ability to stay composed under extreme conditions.

Through videos of parachute exercises and zero-gravity training, Tikhonov showed how isolation, confined spaces and microgravity place enormous stress on cosmonauts, and explained a selection process involving more than 180 examinations plus psychological assessments. He also offered insights into nuclear technologies in space.

The festival, organised by the 'Energy of the Future' with support from Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, brought together Russian and Indian experts and students, with the inaugural ceremony attended by Russian Consulate officials and the college's leadership. The programme also featured a career session on nuclear education, a lecture on nuclear medicine and science debates judged by Tikhonov and others.