Oleg Kononenko, head of the Roscosmos Cosmonaut Training Center, stated that genetic resistance to radiation could become a future selection criterion for interplanetary mission crews. This approach is currently being considered as a potential strategy for long-duration space travel beyond Earth's magnetic field.
The agency is exploring various protective measures, including specialized shielding for spacecraft and individual equipment. However, Kononenko noted that developing these technologies will require significant time, making crewed missions to other planets unlikely in the coming decades.
The proposed genetic screening is not part of the current selection process for Russian cosmonauts. It remains a conceptual approach for future missions where radiation exposure poses a critical risk to human health.
