International Space Station cosmonaut joins Russian poetry seminar

Commander Ryzhikov read some of Lermontov's work on the video call

A cosmonaut made an appearance at a British university seminar from the International Space Station (ISS).

Dr Shane O'Rourke, from the University of York, was discussing a Russian poet when station commander Sergey Ryzhikov joined the Zoom call.

He read some of the works by writer Mikhail Lermontov being analysed during the session.

"It was amazing, it was so clear and everything worked perfectly," Dr O'Rourke said.

The seminar was organised by the Moscow-based Pushkin Institute, State Space Corporation ROSCOSMOS and the Moscow region governorate library.

"The theme of the seminar was poetry and the cosmos and somehow they managed to persuade someone in the space agency to do this hook-up," said Dr O'Rourke.

Dr O'Rourke (top right) said the link to space was "amazing"

While the connection had been tested before the seminar, the Russian Studies department member said he had not expected to be able to see Mr Ryzhikov.

"What they didn't tell us was that he would appear on camera. He was standing there like Commander Sisko from Deep Space Nine I think.

"He was on air for about 20 minutes. He told us the space station was flying over South America and very soon going out over the south Atlantic ocean."

Dr O'Rourke said the space station seemed to be a bit cramped with lots of low arches.

"There was gravity there but it seemed to be less, the way they moved seemed to be as if they were actually floating a bit."

Despite his glimpse of the space station, Dr O'Rourke said he had no desire to visit. "I think I'd rather stay here," he added.

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