A mission to the International Space Station lasts about six months, but the preparation for it takes years. Astronaut training combines science, engineering, medicine, languages and physical skills. As commercial crew flights and private missions become more common, the question of how people are prepared for spaceflight is relevant to a growing number of organisations.
Basic training
Newly selected astronauts first complete basic training. At NASA this phase is called astronaut candidate training, and at ESA it takes place at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne. It covers spacecraft systems, orbital mechanics, space science, medical skills, survival training and, for many astronauts, the Russian language, which is needed for work with Russian partners on the station.
Training for spacewalks
Spacewalks are among the most demanding tasks in orbit. NASA prepares astronauts for them in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston, a very large pool that contains full size mockups of station modules. Wearing pressurised suits, astronauts are weighted so that they neither sink nor float, which simulates working in weightlessness. The cover image shows NASA astronaut Frank Rubio during such training.
Mission specific training
- Vehicle training: crews train in simulators of the spacecraft that will carry them, such as Crew Dragon or Soyuz, including emergency scenarios.
- Station systems: life support, power, communications and robotics, including the Canadarm2 robotic arm.
- Experiments: astronauts learn to operate the scientific experiments planned for their mission, often working with the research teams directly.
Private and commercial astronauts
Private astronaut missions follow a shorter but still intensive programme focused on the vehicle, safety procedures and their own research activities. Future commercial space stations will need their own training concepts, and several companies are building up training capabilities alongside their stations.
Why training matters for the industry
Training capacity, simulators and qualified instructors are a limiting factor for how many people can fly. Companies planning crewed missions or research on commercial stations should include training time and costs in their plans from the beginning.
Related reading
- How Do Crew and Supplies Get to the ISS? The Space Station Supply Chain Explained
- NASA Names the SpaceX Crew-14 Crew for the International Space Station
- After the ISS: Who Is Building the Commercial Space Stations?
Sources
Cover image: NASA astronaut Frank Rubio during spacewalk training. Credit: NASA (52233797698), public domain.