Survival training for Luca

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14 February 2018

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano is getting ready for his second mission to the International Space Station. In 2019 he will launched to the ISS onboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. All astronauts who fly on Soyuz do a winter survival course in the forests near Star City, Russia.

When Soyuz lands on Earth, support teams are usually at hand within minutes to help the astronauts out, but there is always the possibility that the capsule lands in a remote, cold area. As part of their normal training, astronauts learn to survive in harsh climates while waiting for rescue.

For Luca, the course is more of a refresher than learning new skills – he already survived the training in October 2012 as part of his first mission.

The course includes getting out of Soyuz without help from anyone, changing from spacesuits into more winter-friendly clothes, signalling for help (as seen in picture), building a shelter out of wood and the capsule’s parachute, building a fire, and providing first aid!