production team aimed to select "what are known as susceptible people; people who are intelligent, have a creative mind, like practical jokes, and want to go along with people". A strict set of criteria was therefore applied to filter out inappropriate applicants: Eliminating anyone who had ever served in the armed forces, or who already had a significant interest in space travel or science fiction. Psychological tests used to single out the highly suggestible and those who would conform to groupthink Physiological tests to determine claustrophobia, including being in restraining jackets and trapped in a full lift Being asked to dance blindfolded, without music, and with others watching, to gauge inhibition levels Asking the candidates to nominate a friend or relative they trusted implicitly, to make a vital and important decision for them. These friends or relatives were contacted, and fully let in on the hoax, and given the final say of whether or not the Cadet should be included. The intention was to obtain a group of Cadets who were highly gullible, conformist, and ignorant about the show's subject matter; and also ideally suited to appearing in a reality TV show (e.g. uninhibited extroverts and attention seekers, "wacky personalities", or characters otherwise able to capture the public's attention). Prize All nine contestants won a genuine trip to Russia, including a trip to Star City (a small town to the north-west of Moscow which is the home to a Cosmonaut training facility); and a ride on a parabolic flight to experience weightlessness (known as a Vomit Comet) for around 25 seconds. In addition, each Cadet won a cash prize of £5,000. The three Cadets who went into 'space' won a cash prize of £25,000 each (£5,000 per "day in space"). Comedic elements The show contained moderate amounts of bizarre, surreal, or subversive show elements, in a manner similar to other Zeppotron-related productions (for example, TVGoHome.) Examples include: Cadet lectures that were "about 80% true", the rest being ludicrous rubbish; many of these lectures were of little practical use to cosmonauts (e.g. memory tests of the planets in the Solar System) Stereotyped characters, including a slow-talking Royal Air Force Squadron Leader with a luxuriant handlebar moustache Stupid training exercises (e.g. communications training involving reporting ever more implausible emergencies, ending with monkeys rampaging through the spacecraft, and Rambo giving The Fonz a high five) Nonsense Russian (e.g. having the Cadets salute a