For decades, a secretive facility hidden in Russia's birch forests has been turning ordinary humans into space explorers.
Star City, the legendary cosmonaut training center, remained absent from maps for years while shaping the future of human spaceflight.
Through unprecedented access, I documented this remarkable place where the Soviet legacy meets cutting-edge technology, capturing both the technical rigors of astronaut training and the deeply human story of our journey to the stars.
Hidden in Russia's birch forests lies Star City, a secretive complex that has trained generations of space explorers since the dawn of human spaceflight. For decades, this legendary cosmonaut training center existed on no maps, yet it housed some of humanity's most ambitious dreams. I documented this remarkable facility where ordinary humans transform into space explorers, capturing both its Soviet-era legacy and its continued role in modern space exploration.
Why the story matters
for Alexander Gerst's first space mission.
orbits earth.
My assignment was to visually document a highly restricted facility while conveying both its historical significance and current relevance. I needed to capture the human elements of astronaut training while navigating complex access restrictions and security protocols. Additionally, I had to find ways to illustrate the intense physical and mental challenges that astronauts face during their preparation.
Working alongside journalist Eva Wolfangel for Der Spiegel, we developed a comprehensive multimedia narrative that combined intimate photography and videos with in-depth reporting. I focused on following German astronaut Alexander Gerst's journey through training, using his experience as a lens to explore Star City's unique facilities. We documented everything from the legacy of the place to the current trainings in the capsules and the ISS rebuild, creating a visual story that bridges past and present.
The story became a featured multimedia piece in Der Spiegel, offering readers unprecedented access to this historically secretive facility. Our visual narrative captured not just the technical aspects of cosmonaut training, but also the human story of international cooperation in space exploration. The project pulled back the curtain on one of spaceflight's most mysterious institutions, while preserving its sense of wonder and significance.
- Production Year: 2017
- Client: Der Spiegel
- Role: Story Consulting, Filming, Production
