EVA training helps astronauts get ready to work outside spacecraft during spacewalks. This training focuses on the tough reality of doing complicated tasks in the vacuum of space while squeezed into those big, awkward pressure suits.
EVA training stands for Extravehicular Activity training. It teaches astronauts everything they need to know to survive and get the job done outside their spacecraft or the space station.
The main goal? Prove that EVA actually works as a way to get things done outside the crew compartment. Astronauts learn how to handle tools, fix stuff, and run science experiments in space’s pretty unforgiving environment.
Training programs set the bar for EVA performance. These standards help crews become way more efficient when they’re out there on the real thing.
Key training objectives:
EVA time costs a lot, so every minute outside has to count. Astronauts really need to make the most of their time to hit mission goals.
Early EVA programs started out as short trips to try special procedures in the harsh environment of space. The first spacewalks basically tested if astronauts could even function outside their ships.
Those first missions ran into some big issues. Astronauts had trouble with helmet fogging during spacewalks. Overheating was a real problem, too, mostly because of how hard they worked and how the suits trapped heat.
Training facilities changed a lot over the years:
Now, virtual reality systems add to the mix. NASA built VR training centers that give astronauts an immersive way to prep for International Space Station missions.
Astronauts deal with all kinds of physical and technical hurdles during EVAs. Space throws some wild dangers at you, so solid prep and skill matter a lot.
Physical challenges:
Communication can get complicated, too. Astronauts have to stay in touch with mission control while concentrating on detailed technical work.
Equipment can fail at the worst time. Training covers what to do if your tools break, your suit acts up, or you hit some other emergency that could mess up the mission.
The clock is always ticking. Mission plans demand that astronauts finish tasks quickly, so mastering the basics really matters to keep everything on schedule.
NASA sets strict selection standards and uses a thorough evaluation process for astronaut candidates who want to do spacewalks. The agency checks everything—physical ability, medical history, and mental toughness for EVA work.
NASA expects astronaut candidates to have a master’s degree in engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or math from an accredited school. They also want to see at least three years of related work experience, or 1,000 hours as pilot-in-command in a jet.
NASA looks for technical skills, leadership, and teamwork. Military test pilots, engineers, scientists, and doctors usually meet these requirements.
Professional Experience:
Physical fitness is a big deal. Astronaut hopefuls have to pass NASA’s long-duration spaceflight physical. They also need to swim 25 meters in a flight suit and tread water for 10 minutes.
EVA-specific tests kick in during advanced training. At Johnson Space Center, astronauts go through neutral buoyancy tests to see how they handle simulated weightlessness.
NASA’s medical screening checks for anything that could put astronauts at risk during EVA. The exam covers heart health, vision, and bone density.
Astronauts need to keep their blood pressure in check during exercise. They can’t have a history of serious heart issues, kidney stones, or certain mental health conditions.
Medical Must-Haves:
Height must be between 62 and 75 inches for the suits to fit right. Weight depends on the mission and what the spacecraft can handle.
Bone density tests make sure astronauts can take the physical strain of EVA and the bone loss that comes from being in space. The medical team keeps tabs on their health all through training and missions.
NASA’s psychologists look for candidates who can handle the mental side of EVA. They check how people deal with stress, make decisions, and keep their emotions in check under pressure.
Candidates take standardized psychological tests and go through interviews. The team looks at how they handle being isolated, stuck in small spaces, and dealing with high stress.
Psychological Factors:
Teamwork is huge for EVA. Psychologists watch how candidates get along with different people and handle conflicts when everyone’s stuck together.
Psych evaluations keep happening throughout an astronaut’s career. NASA keeps an eye on mental health and checks if astronauts are ready for specific assignments, including EVA.
NASA runs a detailed training system at Johnson Space Center that gets astronauts ready for spacewalks using underwater simulations and advanced assessment tools. They mix old-school neutral buoyancy training with the latest virtual reality tech to create realistic microgravity practice.
Johnson Space Center acts as NASA’s main spot for EVA prep. The facility manages special programs that set the rules for spacewalking astronauts.
NASA’s EVA Skills Training Program lays out what astronauts have to master before they’re allowed to do spacewalks. This covers handling equipment, moving around in microgravity, and emergency moves.
Astronauts start with classroom lessons about spacesuit systems and safety. Then they move on to hands-on equipment training.
Training includes:
Medical staff keep an eye on astronauts during training to prevent decompression sickness and injuries. The training is tough, so health checks are constant.
The Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory is NASA’s go-to for spacewalk practice outside of real missions. This giant pool mimics the weightlessness astronauts feel during EVAs.
Inside, astronauts find full-size mockups of International Space Station modules and gear. They wear specially weighted suits that make them neutrally buoyant, so moving around underwater feels a lot like being in space.
Training can last six or seven hours—pretty much the same as a real spacewalk. Divers stay close to make sure everyone’s safe and to help keep things realistic.
Astronauts rehearse their actual mission tasks before launch. They run through everything from routine maintenance to tricky repairs.
NBL at a glance:
NASA uses all kinds of simulation tech to boost EVA training. The Virtual Reality Lab at Johnson Space Center drops astronauts into immersive spacewalk scenarios—no water needed.
The VR system runs on software called DOUG (Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics), which creates super-realistic space scenes. Astronauts wear headsets to get live visual feedback while they practice.
Zero gravity mass simulation is a big step forward, too. Custom robots and force sensors let astronauts feel what it’s like to handle big objects in microgravity.
VR training cuts costs and lets astronauts practice all sorts of situations that would be way too expensive to set up in the pool.
NASA tracks performance in every phase. They measure:
By combining pool time and VR, NASA makes sure astronauts are as ready as possible for the real thing.
Neutral buoyancy training uses big pools to copy the weightless feeling astronauts get in space. This approach lets trainees practice tough spacewalk moves in a spot that’s about as close as you can get to real microgravity on Earth.
Neutral buoyancy means astronauts don’t sink or float—they just hang in place. Trainers add weights to the spacesuit until everything balances out in the water.
This method does a better job than anything else on the ground for simulating weightlessness. When weighted just right, astronauts can move in all directions like they would during a real spacewalk.
It all comes down to Archimedes’ principle. The upward force from the water matches the astronaut’s weight. Trainers tweak the weights until it’s just right.
Water adds some resistance, which helps astronauts learn how their movements will work in space. It’s not exactly like real microgravity, but the extra drag actually teaches good movement habits.
The training ratio is intense. Astronauts usually log five to seven hours underwater for every hour they’ll spend on a real spacewalk. That much practice helps them get comfortable with the suits and all the tricky tasks.
The Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at Johnson Space Center in Houston is the main training pool in the US. It’s massive—6.2 million gallons, 202 feet long, 102 feet wide.
The pool goes down 40 feet, which is deep enough for life-sized spacecraft mockups. They’ve got full sections of the International Space Station, space shuttles, and other vehicles astronauts work on during missions.
There are other training centers, too. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville runs a separate facility. The European Space Agency, Japan, and China all have their own pools for this kind of training.
Modern pools have advanced life support systems. Astronauts breathe through hoses connected to surface air. Safety divers are always there, ready to help if something goes wrong.
They keep the water temperature and chemistry just right. Clear water makes it easy to see, which helps both the astronauts and the safety crew. Underwater cameras record everything for review later.
Neutral buoyancy training tackles the weirdness of working with no “up” or “down.” Astronauts learn to orient themselves using their eyes, not their sense of balance.
Training starts simple and gets harder. First, astronauts work on basic moves. Then they move on to complicated repairs, using real space tools and coordinating with teammates.
The training shows how microgravity changes fine motor skills. Even turning a bolt can be tough when you can’t plant your feet. Neutral buoyancy helps astronauts figure out how to brace themselves and get the job done.
Water training isn’t perfect. Bubbles, drag, and weighted suits aren’t the same as real weightlessness. Still, the benefits far outweigh the differences.
Emergency drills are a big part of underwater sessions. Astronauts practice what to do if their equipment fails or if there’s a suit problem. This kind of prep is crucial for staying safe during real spacewalks.
NASA’s EVA training program zeroes in on three main areas that help astronauts handle the tricky business of working in space. These skills are absolutely essential for safe, effective spacewalks outside spacecraft and space stations.
The spacesuit is basically a personal spacecraft, and astronauts really have to master it. Training starts with the Environmental Control and Life Support System—this thing keeps oxygen flowing, scrubs out carbon dioxide, and keeps temperatures in check during EVAs.
Astronauts rack up hundreds of hours practicing suit mobility in huge underwater pools. These facilities mimic the weightlessness of space and add just enough resistance to help astronauts practice careful, controlled movements.
Primary mobility skills include:
At the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston, astronauts get the most realistic training possible. They suit up and spend up to seven hours underwater, running through specific mission tasks.
Suit malfunctions get a lot of attention. Astronauts learn how to handle cooling failures, comms breakdowns, or power issues—basically anything that could go sideways during a real EVA.
EVA safety protocols are the backbone of spacewalk training. Astronauts learn all about redundant safety systems that help prevent accidents and give them a fighting chance if something goes wrong in the vacuum of space.
Tether management is a big deal. Astronauts always stay connected to the spacecraft with primary and backup tethers. Training drills in how to route tethers correctly, so they don’t get tangled but always stay attached.
Essential safety protocols include:
Astronauts use a buddy system, constantly keeping an eye on their partner’s suit, location, and progress. This approach has kept a lot of accidents from happening during real spacewalks.
Advanced training throws in emergencies—suit punctures, medical issues, gear failures—all under tough time pressure to keep things realistic.
Spacewalk tools have to work in crazy conditions, with temperatures swinging from -250°F to +250°F. Astronauts spend a lot of time getting used to tools specially designed for use with pressurized gloves.
EVA power tools come with beefed-up grips, simple controls, and batteries that can handle space. Training focuses on using the right amount of torque—too much, and you might break something important.
Standard EVA tools include:
Tool restraint is a must, or things just float away. Astronauts practice one-handed work, always keeping the other hand on the tether.
Mission-specific tasks call for custom tool training. Astronauts rehearse repairs with mockups of the actual hardware they’ll work on.
Tool malfunctions aren’t just a possibility—they’re expected in training. Astronauts get used to thinking on their feet and improvising fixes with whatever’s handy. Turns out, that adaptability has saved the day more than once during real EVAs.
Training programs throw astronauts into tough situations using contingency protocols, equipment failure drills, and comms breakdown exercises that really do mirror actual emergencies in space.
EVA contingency planning sits at the core of astronaut safety during spacewalks. Training centers all over the U.S. develop detailed emergency response procedures to cover lots of different failure scenarios—sometimes all at once.
NASA’s programs simulate chain-reaction emergencies. Astronauts might face rapid cabin depressurization and a suit puncture at the same time, forcing them to make snap decisions and hustle back to safety.
Primary contingency categories include medical emergencies, structural failures, and environmental hazards. Training centers use virtual reality to crank up the pressure and force quick decision-making.
The National Center for Integrated Emergency Response runs full-scale scenarios with advanced simulation tech. Astronauts learn to stay focused when everything seems to go wrong at once.
Emergency action plans get tailored to each spacecraft’s layout. Astronauts train for both tethered and free-floating EVAs, with different rules for each.
Equipment malfunction training throws real curveballs at astronauts. Trainers inject surprise tool failures and system breakdowns into routine tasks, so crews have to adapt on the fly.
Critical malfunction scenarios include life support failures, tool breakdowns, and robotic arm glitches. Each one tests how astronauts solve problems under serious pressure.
Virtual reality systems make malfunctions feel real. Astronauts have to work with backups, keep an eye on oxygen, and manage their time.
Every piece of equipment gets its own set of failure modes in training. A single tool might fail in a couple of different ways, forcing astronauts to try several fixes.
Advanced simulation software mimics the quirks of faulty gear, including those annoying intermittent failures that are tough to diagnose. These realistic runs get astronauts ready for the unpredictable hardware in space.
Communication failure training preps astronauts for those moments when ground control just goes silent—right in the middle of a critical EVA. These exercises teach crews to keep calm and stick to protocols, even when they’re fully on their own.
Simulations create comms blackouts during tough repairs. Astronauts have to finish the job using only pre-set procedures, without anyone on the ground talking them through it.
Communication failure protocols cover hand signals, backup comms systems, and making autonomous decisions. Training really pushes for clear crew-to-crew communication if ground support drops off.
Scenarios start with partial comms loss and ramp up to total blackout. Astronauts learn to spot the signs and switch to backup plans before things get worse.
Emergency comms training includes everything from equipment failures to interference from the environment. Crews practice with emergency beacons and backup transmitters while still getting the mission done.
The U.S. is home to several top-tier facilities for EVA training. NASA leads the pack with its huge underwater center, but private companies and international partners are also getting in on the action, especially as space tourism ramps up.
NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) in Houston is the go-to spot for EVA training in America. The pool is massive—202 feet long, 102 feet wide, and 40 feet deep.
Inside, astronauts find full-size replicas of spacecraft and space station modules. They spend hours perfecting spacewalk procedures in this underwater world.
Training programs at the NBL include:
The Johnson Space Center also offers vacuum chambers, robotic arm simulators, and virtual reality systems to round out the training.
NASA’s EVA Skills Training Program sets high standards, and honestly, it’s boosted crew performance a lot. The NBL trains both NASA astronauts and those from international partners gearing up for space station missions.
Commercial space companies are building their own EVA training setups to meet the needs of space tourists and private missions. These centers focus on civilian astronaut prep and commercial spacewalks.
Private training centers now offer condensed EVA courses for future space tourists. The focus is on basic suit use, safety, and simple maintenance—just the essentials.
Key private sector developments include:
A bunch of universities are teaming up with aerospace firms to provide EVA research and training. These academic programs help advance EVA tech and train the next generation of space pros.
Private sector courses zero in on what space tourists and commercial astronauts actually need. It’s a different vibe compared to NASA’s all-encompassing, military-style training.
American EVA training centers regularly host international astronauts and support joint missions. These partnerships boost global space capabilities and let everyone share best practices.
At the NBL, astronauts from ESA, JAXA, and CSA all train together. This helps standardize EVA procedures for international space station work.
International training elements include:
Joint training missions help crews build trust and communication skills—both pretty crucial for spacewalks with international teams.
American facilities also share technical know-how and gear with other nations’ EVA programs. This kind of cooperation keeps the U.S. at the front of astronaut training, while pushing global exploration forward.
NASA keeps tweaking its EVA training to fit new missions, from lunar surface ops in the Artemis program to ongoing International Space Station chores. Each mission needs its own set of skills and training tricks.
The Artemis program has forced NASA to rethink EVA training. Instead of just prepping for specific tasks, lunar EVA training now focuses on building flexible skills.
Lunar surface work feels totally different from space-based EVAs. The moon’s gravity changes how astronauts move and use tools. They practice collecting rocks, setting up equipment, and handling emergencies in simulators designed for lunar gravity.
Key training components include:
NASA leans on advanced simulations to mimic lunar conditions. Virtual reality lets astronauts get a feel for the weird lighting and rugged terrain they’ll face.
Training now puts a premium on adaptability, since lunar missions always throw some curveballs. Astronauts focus on problem-solving, not just memorizing steps.
ISS EVA training is all about station maintenance, upgrades, and installing science gear. Astronauts spend a ton of time at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, where underwater sessions give them a taste of weightlessness.
Training starts with a basic skills check. Only astronauts who handle themselves well in the pool move on to full EVA training.
Mission-specific prep gets crews ready for their exact spacewalks. The Mission Operations Directorate comes up with custom training scenarios to match what astronauts will actually face.
Training elements cover:
Every EVA takes months of lead-up. Astronauts rehearse their tasks over and over until they nail them. They also train with their real EVA partners to build up teamwork.
Future Mars missions need a whole new level of EVA training, borrowing from both lunar and ISS playbooks. Astronauts have to be ready for long missions with little help from Earth.
Mars EVA training centers on being self-sufficient and resourceful. Crews can’t count on real-time help—signals take up to 24 minutes each way.
Training focuses on keeping habitats running, doing science, and using local resources. Astronauts learn to fix gear with whatever’s around and tweak procedures as things change.
Critical training areas include:
NASA is building these programs alongside new Mars hardware. What astronauts learn on Artemis lunar missions will shape how they train for Mars EVAs down the road.
American spacewalking history kicked off with test flights during the Gemini program. Over time, these missions evolved into lunar surface operations that set the stage for today’s EVA training.
Those early steps built the foundation for the advanced training programs we see now. Both professional astronauts and even a few civilians benefit from that legacy.
Ed White made history as America’s first spacewalker on June 3, 1965, during Gemini 4. He floated outside for 23 minutes, using a handheld maneuvering unit to scoot around.
His EVA proved people could actually work in the vacuum of space. That’s honestly still pretty wild to think about.
The Gemini program kept pushing EVA boundaries on several missions. Astronauts like Gene Cernan and Buzz Aldrin ran into all sorts of problems on their spacewalks.
Back then, limited training and basic gear made things tough. Early EVAs really weren’t easy.
Gemini 12 changed the game in 1966. Buzz Aldrin pulled off successful EVAs thanks to new training approaches and better tools.
His mission made it clear: with good prep, spacewalking gets a lot safer and more manageable.
The Apollo program took EVA to the Moon. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first to walk on the lunar surface on July 20, 1969.
Their moonwalk lasted over two hours, collecting rocks and running experiments.
Some American astronauts have racked up impressive EVA records over the years. Story Musgrave completed six spacewalks on multiple Space Shuttle flights.
His experience helped shape training techniques that astronauts still use. That’s a legacy that sticks.
The longest single American EVA? It lasted 8 hours and 56 minutes during a Space Shuttle mission focused on repairs and station construction.
Peggy Whitson holds the record for most EVA time by an American woman. She completed several spacewalks while living on the International Space Station.
Her accomplishments really opened doors for women in EVA roles.
Modern EVA training now preps astronauts for missions as long as eight hours. These spacewalks demand serious fitness and mental stamina.
Training facilities keep innovating, always building on what those early pioneers learned.
EVA training has to get astronauts ready for the jump from Earth’s gravity to weightlessness. Training centers use all sorts of tricks to mimic microgravity and help astronauts move like they’re in space.
Gravity on Earth makes spacewalk training a real challenge. Every movement and body position feels different than it will in orbit.
Astronauts have to unlearn some very basic instincts. On Earth, they use their weight to stabilize themselves and push tools.
But in space, those habits don’t help. In fact, they can get in the way.
Arm positioning gets tricky, too. When you lift your arms at 90 degrees or higher, you use different techniques here than you will in space.
Training programs have to account for gravity pulling arms down during practice. It’s a weird adjustment.
Muscle training gets complicated as well. The strength and coordination you need for Earth-based tasks just doesn’t always translate to space.
Astronauts have to adapt, learning to move precisely without gravity lending a hand.
Training centers use special equipment and custom routines to help bridge the gap between Earth and space.
The Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory stands out as the go-to way to mimic microgravity for EVA training. This giant pool lets astronauts practice weightlessness in full space suits.
Training requirements are no joke for neutral buoyancy work. Astronauts spend about 11.6 hours underwater for every hour they’ll actually spend on EVA.
That’s a lot of pool time, but it pays off.
Underwater training lets astronauts practice hardware maintenance and geology sampling without gravity getting in the way. The buoyant environment means they can focus on doing things the right way.
Body positioning changes a lot in simulated microgravity. Astronauts start using visual cues instead of gravity to figure out which way is up.
They build new muscle memory for moving in three dimensions with no real “down.”
The neutral buoyancy setup helps astronauts get a feel for how microgravity affects tool use. They practice staying stable while applying force, since gravity-assisted leverage just isn’t a thing in space.
Simulation tech and artificial intelligence are shaking up how astronauts prep for spacewalks. Commercial space companies want training that matches the growing demand for civilian space missions.
NASA keeps pushing virtual reality systems for realistic spacewalk practice. These VR setups let trainees tackle tough tasks without any real risk.
The new systems blend visuals, sound, and haptic feedback. Trainees actually feel resistance when turning bolts or moving gear in the virtual world.
Some VR training perks:
Mixed reality brings digital elements into real-world training spaces. Astronauts can handle actual tools while seeing virtual spacecraft parts.
Training centers across the country are adding these systems. For many EVA tasks, the tech cuts prep time from months to just weeks.
Artificial intelligence now tracks astronaut movements during practice. The system catches mistakes and offers fixes right away.
AI studies thousands of successful EVA moves. It builds training plans that fit each astronaut’s strengths and weak spots.
Robotic assistants join human trainers in the latest facilities. These bots can create equipment failures or emergencies on the fly.
AI training uses:
NASA is working on AI coaches that give constant feedback. These programs help astronauts learn tricky procedures faster.
The tech adjusts to different learning styles, too. Visual learners get more diagrams, while hands-on folks get extra practice.
Private space companies need crews ready for their missions. That’s led to new training options at US facilities.
Commercial astronaut programs focus on shorter prep times. Most space tourists learn EVA basics in weeks, not years.
Training centers in California, Florida, and Texas offer specialized courses. These programs target people planning private spacewalks or visits to space stations.
How commercial training differs:
Space tourism companies team up with NASA training pros to keep things safe and affordable.
New training centers are popping up to meet rising demand. They use the latest tech to get civilians ready for spacewalks quickly.
EVA training programs in the US have specific entry requirements and thorough courses that prep people for spacewalks. Most programs stick to NASA’s protocols but offer different certification tracks for a range of backgrounds.
NASA asks for a bachelor’s degree in engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or math from an accredited school. Military test pilots and experienced aviators tend to get preference.
Physical requirements include 20/20 vision or correctable eyesight, blood pressure at or below 140/90, and a height between 62 and 75 inches. You’ll need to pass a medical exam at Johnson Space Center.
US citizenship is required for NASA programs. Some commercial training programs accept international participants through private partnerships.
American EVA training puts a big focus on NASA’s protocols, built from decades of spacewalks. The Neutral Buoyancy Lab at Johnson Space Center is the world’s biggest underwater EVA training site.
Russian programs train more with Sokol and Orlan suits for the ISS. The European Space Agency uses modular training that changes with each mission.
US programs average about 300 hours of basic EVA training, while most international programs do around 200. American training also puts extra emphasis on robotic arm use and spacecraft maintenance.
Spacesuit training covers life support, communications, and emergency drills. Trainees learn to work in pressurized suits that limit movement and touch.
Underwater sessions at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab mimic microgravity. Trainees practice using tools, swapping out components, and running through emergencies—sometimes underwater for up to seven hours.
There’s a lot of work on spatial awareness, setting up worksites, and working efficiently. More advanced training dives into mission-specific stuff like satellite repairs or building space stations.
Commercial space companies now offer shorter EVA training for tourists and private astronauts. You’ll need medical clearance and to pass a basic fitness check.
SpaceX and Axiom Space run civilian programs that cover spacesuit basics and safety. Most people complete 40-80 hours of prep before starting EVA training.
Prerequisites include being 18-65 years old, passing a medical exam, and signing liability waivers. Most civilian courses cost $250,000-$500,000 and take several months to finish.
NASA astronaut candidates get Mission Specialist certification after two years of training. That allows them to join real spacewalks on the ISS.
Commercial programs give certificates of completion, not operational licenses. These show you finished the training but don’t let you lead your own EVA.
Private astronaut programs issue flight readiness certificates for commercial spacewalks. You’ll need to renew these and keep up with medical checks.
Safety divers keep a close eye on all underwater training sessions in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Emergency medical teams stay ready nearby, equipped with decompression chambers and advanced life support gear.
Technicians check spacesuit systems thoroughly before training starts. If a primary system fails during exercises, the backup life support system kicks in right away.
Trainers track vital signs constantly during the most intense training phases. Flight surgeons look over each participant’s health before every session, and they can stop the activity if they spot any safety issues.
