TWO Russian cosmonauts will land in the region this month to reveal what life is like on the Mir space station.

The cosmonauts, Dr Alexander Martynov and Alexander Volkov will be giving two lectures arranged by the University of Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, on Tuesday, December 14.

The pair will talk to schoolchildren in the early part of the day before giving a lecture to members of the public in the evening.

Dr Martynov worked for 14 years in Russian Mission Control as head of ballistics and designed re-entry modules. He also controlled Russian flights to provide soft landings on Earth, Mars, Venus and other planets.

He will be visiting Sunderland for the second time, having accompanied fellow cosmonaut Yuri Usachev for a similar talk in 2002.

Alexander Volkov spent more than a year in space on board Mir and detailed the joint work with NASA in designing and building the International Space Station.

He was also commander on two of Mir's space missions, awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union, Space Pilot of the USSR, Order of Lenin, and the Golden Star for Courage and Heroism.

Their 90-minute presentation will look at life on the space station and at the technology required for a manned mission to Mars.

People can buy merchandise from the cosmonauts. Tickets for the 7.30pm talk, costing £3 for adults, £2 concessions and £1 children, can be obtained on 0191-515 3806.