4.1 – What would you include in your astronaut training programme, to help prepare the astronauts for a Moon mission?
The primary goal of astronaut training is to hone the astronaut’s knowledge, therefore it includes some fundamental theoretical understanding of the cosmos, the atmosphere, astronomy, geography, aerodynamics, ship flying principles, etc. Physical training is very varied, including long-distance swimming, gymnastics, spinning ladder, bicycle, etc., with the main goals being to train the astronaut’s endurance, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory function. To swim in space, we must first have a strong body.
Weightlessness and supergravity training. Weightlessness training is primarily used to prepare aircraft for parabolic flight; each flight with multiple throws can get 5 to 20 minutes of weightlessness time. Because rocket takeoff, spacecraft in orbit, and landing will produce a lot of supergravities and a weightless environment, this aspect of the astronauts is also very demanding.
Six months before the commencement of mission-specific training, astronauts undergo simulated flight training, which involves them in a low vacuum spaceship simulation chamber. Aside from weightlessness, there is no difference between the simulation and the actual voyage.