|
|
Astronaut training: The latest reality show
May 6, 2005 16: 50 EST
So you think you have what it takes to be an astronaut? According to NASA, the latest batch of astronaut candidates were subjected to a year of being “ejected, spun, strapped, blindfolded, dunked in water, looped, rolled, flipped, floated, left in a forest, taught to eat leaves and roots, ‘injured’ and rescued.” Some people might consider doing that for a million dollar prize and prime-time fame, but these guys withstood a year of “training” just for the chance to go to space.
From strangers, to family
So what does wilderness training in the woods have to do with space? It’s all about survival, problem solving, and most importantly, teamwork. "Working as a team, whether it was through water survival training, ground, or flight training, has been the most valuable lesson we've learned so far," said Educator Astronaut Joe Acaba. "Those stronger in some areas helped others and vice versa. We got through it all together."
After a year of physical and teamwork training, the candidates are now brushing up on their book smarts. They have to be experts on everything from propulsion to environmental controls to Shuttle vehicle operations. They’ll also be cracking the Russian phrasebook, and learning about the International Space Station.
Today marks the one year anniversary of the selection of the new astronaut candidates. Three Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronauts: Akihiko Hoshide, Satoshi Furukawa and Naoko Yamazaki, are training with the 11-member astronaut candidate class.
Image of NASA astronaut candidates conducting an emergency evacuation drill during land survival training in the wilderness near Brunswick, Maine, courtesy of NASA.
|
|
Feature Stories |
|
Latest News |
more news |
 |
ExWeb updated expeditions list - Space!
Full Story
|
 |
Titan: Rain fall, methane rivers, volcanoes spewing ice
Full Story
|
 |
Life in Space - leaving Eden in search for Paradise
Full Story
|
 |
ET coming closer: Suns like ours spotted with planetary debris dis
Full Story
|
 |
The Wow signal - listen up!
Full Story
|
 |
Mars Society: Looking for a few good Martians - that's YOU buddy!
Full Story
|
 |
The Space Frontier Foundation
Full Story
|
|
|
| Discovery Returns to the Vehicle Assembly Building May 31, 2005 | | ExplorersWeb Week in Review May 30, 2005 | | Space tourists are not rocket scientists and might be super sized May 27, 2005 | | Olsen back to Space? May 26, 2005 | | "Robonauts" to help humans in space May 25, 2005 | | Interstellar exploration: Voyager enters the solar system's final frontier May 24, 2005 | | Russia plans manned mission to Mars, but money first May 23, 2005 | | ExplorersWeb Week in Review May 22, 2005 | | Rutan under-whelmed by NASA May 20, 2005 | | Space flight price wars May 19, 2005 |
| | NASA launches new explorer schools May 18, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
2004
BEST of EXPLORERSWEB
|
|
|
|
