Download:
HI-RES JPEG (Size:
Astronauts exploring Sardinian caves.
ESA’s cave training prepares astronauts to work as an international team
in real exploration conditions. Sending astronauts underground to
survive and explore Sardinian caves in Italy for almost a week is just
one element of their long training.
The caves are isolated from the outside world. The astronauts need to
get used to confined spaces, minimal privacy, technical challenges and
limited equipment and supplies for hygiene and comfort – just as in
space. Credits: ESA–R. Bresnik
An international crew of six astronauts will start training for a caving adventure designed to prepare them for spaceflight.
CAVES, an abbreviation of Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and
Exercising human behaviour and performance Skills, prepares astronauts
to work safely and effectively and solve problems as a multicultural
team while exploring uncharted areas using space procedures.
The sunny island of Sardinia in Italy will welcome the astronauts from
all the partners of the International Space Station. After a week spent
learning the safety procedures and basics of exploring caves, the
astronauts will venture underground on 7 September for six days.
Download:
HI-RES JPEG (Size:
A ‘cavewalk’. Moving in a cave is similar to a spacewalk. It requires
safety tethering, 3D orientation, with no-touch areas (speleothemes) and
exclusion zones (dangerous paths). As in a spacewalk the view is
stunning.
ESA’s cave training prepares astronauts to work as an international team
in real exploration conditions. Sending astronauts underground to
survive and explore Sardinian caves in Italy for almost a week is just
one element of their long training.
The caves are isolated from the outside world. The astronauts need to
get used to confined spaces, minimal privacy, technical challenges and
limited equipment and supplies for hygiene and comfort – just like in
space.
Credits: ESA–V. Crobu
Caves offer many similarities to space travel. Working in isolation
from the outside world in confined spaces with minimal privacy as well
as coping with technical challenges and limited supplies are conditions
that astronauts have to live with in space – and underground.
The experience is designed to be as realistic as possible. A dedicated
mission control will monitor the crew from a base station at the
entrance of the cave. Briefings are held twice a day as they are on the
International Space Station.
The crew is allowed only one shipment of supplies during their stay
underground. They will have to choose the equipment carefully and give
mission control at least 24 hours’ notice to prepare the cargo.
Orientation phase of CAVES 2011.
ESA’s cave training prepares astronauts to work as an international team
in real exploration conditions. Sending astronauts underground to
survive and explore Sardinian caves in Italy for almost a week is just
one element of their long training.
The caves are isolated from the outside world. The astronauts need to
get used to confined spaces, minimal privacy, technical challenges and
limited equipment and supplies for hygiene and comfort – just like in
space. Credits: ESA–V. Crobu
Looking for life
The opportunity to conduct research will not be lost. Just as in space, the astronauts have a busy schedule performing scientific work as well as testing new equipment and procedures.
The opportunity to conduct research will not be lost. Just as in space, the astronauts have a busy schedule performing scientific work as well as testing new equipment and procedures.
A large part of the Sardinian caves are unexplored or uncharted. The
‘cavenauts’ will have to navigate safely through passages while deciding
which areas to explore. They will draw detailed maps of their progress
to ensure they make it back to base camp and to help future cave
explorers.
This year the astronauts will be searching for life-forms as well.
“Nobody has systematically looked for life in these caves,” says ESA
astronaut trainer and CAVES course designer Loredana Bessone.
| Life spotted in cave.
ESA’s cave training prepares astronauts to work as an international team
in real exploration conditions. Sending astronauts underground to
survive and explore Sardinian caves in Italy for almost a week is just
one element of their long training. The Sardinian caves are isolated from the outside world. The astronauts need to get used to confined spaces, minimal privacy, technical challenges and limited equipment and supplies for hygiene and comfort – just like in space. Credits: ESA–F. Sauro “Finding life big and small is always good, so I am very excited we will be looking for exotic bacteria and cave dwellers such as anthropods.” The astronauts will use the same safety protocols as used on spacewalks and they will also test a new communication system. With support from their trainers, the astronauts will analyse their team-working skills and leadership qualities during the two-week course. ESA | G | |
| Guillermo Gonzalo Sánchez Achutegui | ||
ayabaca@hotmail.com
ayabaca@yahoo.com
Inscríbete en el Foro del blog y participa : A Vuelo De Un Quinde - El Foro!
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario