Why the world's most elite astronauts train deep underground
In short: To prepare for the vacuum of space, some of Earth's most experienced explorers head into its crust. This debriefing explores why subterranean caverns serve as a high-fidelity proxy for the International Space Station.
The CAVES 2013 training course utilized underground environments to simulate the psychological and physical demands of extravehicular activity (EVA). Astronauts from NASA, the ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency spent a week hundreds of meters below the surface to build technical proficiency in extreme environments.
Experienced spacewalkers like Paolo Nespoli and Jeremy Hansen explain that climbing down into a cavern mirrors the complexities of spacewalking. The training focuses on the unique challenges of navigating confined, high-stakes spaces where every movement must be deliberate.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: CAVES 2013 debriefing
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