MOSCOW (Sputnik) — David Saint-Jacques, astronaut of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), who is set to fly to the International Space Station (ISS), started his training in Russia's Yuri A. Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC), the center's spokesperson told RIA Novosti on Monday.
"David Saint-Jacques, astronaut of the CSA, was introduced to the GCTC senior officials and staff," the spokesperson said.
As an onboard engineer, Saint-Jacques will make studies of Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft systems, as well as receive medical instructions and learn Russian language, the center's spokesperson added.
Saint-Jacques was selected for the CSA astronaut team in May 2009 and graduated from the NASA training center in Houston in 2011. Saint-Jacques is a crew member of ISS Expedition 58/59 which is scheduled to launch in late 2018.