The nation's first astronaut has begun a domestic training program at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute in Daejeon.

During the nine-day program, Ko San and his backup astronaut Lee So-youn will receive training in carrying out missions in a weightless environment and using space food.

Ko will then fly to the United States on January 12th for communication training.

He will take his first step into space aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft on April eighth at a space center in Kazhakstan.