UK ESA astronaut Rosemary Coogan and member of ESA’s astronaut reserve John McFall have completed an intensive training programme deep within in a cave system beneath Italy’s Apennine Mountains.
The British duo participated in ESA’s CAVES training course alongside NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson, NASA astronaut candidate Ben Bailey and JAXA astronaut Ayu Yoneda.
Aimed at space explorers, CAVES offers participants the chance to develop teamwork and problem-solving skills while coping with the physiological and psychological impacts of an unfamiliar, hostile environment.
This experience mirrors many aspects of spaceflight – including isolation, confinement, and limited supplies – making it the ideal preparation for a career spent dealing with the risks of living and working in space.
You can read the full story on ESA’s CAVES training course on the Human and Robotic Exploration pages of esa.int.