... From October 1990 to March 1992 he passed a course of general space training and on March 11, 1992 a qualification of a test cosmonaut was conferred on him. ... From August 1997 to January 1998 he passed training as a member of the STS-89 crew at the Johnson Space Center, USA. ... From March 1998 to February 1999 he passed training as the backup crew commander under EC-27 program for the Mir Orbital Complex together with Claudie Andre-Deshaus (Haignere) (France) and Mihal Fulier (Slovakia). ...