Why astronauts are training in the dark, freezing caves of Sardinia
In short: To prepare for the frontiers of space, the European Space Agency uses Earth's subsurface to simulate the isolation and challenges of deep-space exploration.
The CAVES training programme takes astronauts into the Supramonte cave system in Sardinia for two weeks. This unique ESA initiative places six astronauts in total darkness and cold, separated from the outside world to perform scientific research and daily group tasks.
The environment serves as a proxy for spaceflight, where moving through the cave system using harnesses and safety devices mimics the technical demands of spacewalking.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Another Space
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