In preparation for space exploration, astronauts train in space-like environments on Earth.

This clip shows astronauts and instructors participating in ESA-led training courses CAVES (Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behaviour and performance Skills) and Pangaea, as well as NASA’s NEEMO (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations) missions. During NEEMO, astronauts, engineers and researchers live in the Aquarius underwater laboratory at the bottom of the ocean for up to three weeks at a time.

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano is also shown learning to remotely operate a rover to collect geological samples for an experiment called Analog-1.

The geologically-focused CAVES and Pangaea expeditions are set in Slovenia, Bavaria in Germany, and Lanzarote in Spain. The CAVES course prepares astronauts to work safely and effectively in multicultural teams in an environment where safety is critical. Pangaea equips astronauts with the geological skills and knowledge necessary for future missions to the Moon and Mars. Luca is already using this knowledge as part of the Analog-1 experiment, where he consults geologists by radio to decide which samples to collect.