Page 78 - BBC Sky at Night - September 2017 UK

78 ASTRONAUT TRAINING SEPTEMBER

The tests The candidates were faced with challenges

on land, in the air and even underwater

CENTRIFUGE PARABOLIC FLIGHTS
Spinning at high speeds, long-arm centrifuges can mimic the forces an To mimic the effects of microgravity, astronauts train on specially
astronaut experiences during take off and re-entry. Such high G-forces outfitted planes which repeatedly fly up and down at an angle of
can pull blood away from the brain, or push down on an astronaut’s 45º. At the top of the curve, they experience around 20 seconds
chest making it difficult to breathe. Through sessions in the centrifuge, of weightlessness. As well as making passengers feel sick (earning
the trainees can learn how to tense muscles to maintain blood pressure the plane the nickname The Vomit Comet), candidates get a taster
in the head and learn breathing techniques to fight against these forces. of using equipment specially adapted for use in space.

AQUARIUS UNDERWATER HABITAT THE DUNKER
Located 6km off the coast of Florida, Aquarius is a subaquatic habitat An underwater escape training unit, the Dunker is a mock cockpit that
20m below the surface, where trainee astronauts live for weeks at a can be repeatedly dropped into a swimming pool so that pilots can
time. During their stay, the ‘aquanauts’ experience what it’s like to live practise exiting the aircraft in the event of a crash. The tests are often
in an isolated environment where they rely completely on life support done in the dark or with key routes blocked so trainees have to learn
systems. It also helps develop good expedition behaviour, the art of to keep calm to make their escape. Often the unit is flipped to odd
keeping morale up and working as a team, which is vital on the ISS. angles to assess how trainees deal with emergencies while disorientated.
GCTC, ESA/A.GERST, NASA, MICHAEL BUDDLE/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, ILLUSTRATIONS BY PAUL WOOTTON
Can you train like an astronaut?

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BACK CORE BALANCE AGILITY STRENGTH
Lie face up on the Alternate between Stand on one leg Assume a press-up Holding a kettlebell in
ground, lift your legs a front plank and a and throw a ball position and lift one knee both hands, squat down
and arms then return lateral plank with arm back and forth with to your elbow. Return and and swing the weight
to the start position. raise, holding each a partner. Repeat three then repeat with the other from between your legs to
Repeat five times, for 30 seconds. times for 30 seconds knee. Continue for 30 chest height for one minute.
slow and controlled. Repeat three times. on each leg. seconds, repeat three times. Repeat three times. S

skyatnightmagazine.com 2017