Onboard Diary

Day 9. Star City. Cosmonaut Costumes. Space Tourists. MIR.

Our second last day in Moscow has been one of those historical ones that has brought and will bring many good things for the film.

We went back the Star City. This time was to learn about it in depth.

First we visited the museum. We have discovered fascinating things. The best: a confession. But I promised not to say where it comes from. What I can say is that it was told by an American technician to the person who told us:

-"What do you do about sex on outer space?, he asked.

-"We use blow-up dolls", the technician answered.

And I still find myself smiling when I imagine this.

The Star City is like a small town where everybody knows each another, lots of meetings, one after the other. First we met Sergei Volkov who gave us the costume he had promised. It is an authentic training jumpsuit he used while preparing Mission 17th to the International Station. He gave us permission to sell it at an auction to get funds for the film. It will travel to Spain together with other cosmonaut costumes.

Later, outside the museum, we met him again. He was being interviewed for the Russian television with his father, Alexander Volkov, another mythical cosmonaut from the Soviet period, we were able to say hello to him. He was delighted with the project and offered to appear in a picture with us and his son, then he signed it.

We also took the chance to sign in the visitors' book.

The second part of our visit has been, if possible, more exciting. We visited the special complex and training areas. We were standing under the largest training spinning machine in the world.

We were totally amazed by the MIR. The authentic MIR, majestic, resting quietly in front of us.

We managed to get information about several facts for the film. Finally we visited the underwater training area and bought a few things at the souvenir shop. As special gift, they let us buy some authentic cosmonauts food. An apple compote tube, bread and energetic food blocks.

From left to right, top to bottom: images from the training area where the old MIR is exhibited after taking it back from the ocean...and cosmonaut's food.

Best news came after a conversation with our guide. She confirmed to us, after a speaking to the Gagarin Centre´s Director, that we´ll receive a collaboration letter and the permission to shoot some of the special sequences inside the complex. Shooting in Star City...!

This is becoming a dream come true. Now we only need the money to make it real. (We added an extra item in the budget after this news, we're planning to move a small team to Moscow during 9 days to shoot these sequences and some others at the capital and surroundings).

Once again this project seems to have been touched by fairies, so among all possible things to happen, only the best and the weirdest become real, always.

In the middle of a lost and prohibited city, hidden till not so long ago, hardly accessible, in the middle of a snowy place...who did we meet at the Star City? We met Richard Garriot, the sixth space tourist and Space Adventures representative. A man who paid 30 million dollars to fly to outer space on Mission 17th with Sergei Volkov.

We told him about the project and he excitedly asked us to send the information to him to be able to read it in depth. He gave us his personal card and a couple of patches from his space mission. And, of course, a signed photograph.

Is it possible to be luckier than this? Someday a meteor will land on our heads to get this all balanced.

NOTE: To end the day the best way possible, Carola called me to say that the project has been presented at the ICAA on time and without any problem. It may be denied because of political problems which we´ll explain further on, but we have hope for this project to be a tool to change a few things in this country. The ball is in your field. Mr. Lara, make your bet.