SpaceX Shocked Astronaut with Dragon Training Better Than Russia…Refused to Fly! An astronaut just said something about SpaceX’s Dragon that’s got Russia’s Soyuz veterans raising eyebrows, and trust me, it’s not what you’d expect. We’re talking about a comparison so shocking, it boils down to this: pressing a button versus understanding the physics behind it. Today, we’re diving into a rare, firsthand account from astronaut Kimiya Yui, who’s flown on Soyuz and will fly on SpaceX’s Dragon, and what he said has stirred the pot between ‘old space’ and ‘new space. Is modern spaceflight turning astronauts into passengers? Or is this the smartest evolution in spacecraft design we’ve ever seen? Find out everything in today’s Techmap episode! SpaceX Shocked Astronaut with Dragon Training Better Than Russia…Refused to Fly! To truly grasp how SpaceX has revolutionized the space industry, let’s hear from someone who’s been there, JAXA astronaut Kimiya Yui, who will serve as a mission specialist in the upcoming SpaceX Crew 11. Reflecting on his experience, he shared: “In Russia, in Soyuz, we still have a very traditional training education system. So, for example, if we have some need to learn how a microwave works in Russia, you would be taught the physics of how a microwave works or something like that, but in the United States, you just press this button and just set timers.” This simple yet powerful comparison captures the essence of the difference in astronaut training philosophies. Some learn how it works, and others just learn what to do. Let’s dive deeper into Russia’s Soyuz training program. When Yui flew aboard the Soyuz in 2015, he experienced firsthand how rigorous and technically demanding the Russian space training is. Before teaching you which buttons to press, Russian trains you in the underlying physics and engineering. The microwave example might seem simple, but it represents something profound: Russian astronauts must understand the science behind every system. In reality, when pilots practice docking in Soyuz, they spend a lot of time learning manual controls and spacecraft physics so they can fly and fix the ship themselves if needed. SpaceX Shocked Astronaut with Dragon Training Better Than Russia… Refused to Fly! Or for emergencies, Russian astronauts study the spacecraft’s life support and systems inside-out, understanding why things work and how to troubleshoot deeply. It’s not just about operation, it’s about becoming a mechanic and a scientist in one. ===