Prepare for Launch: The Astronaut Training Process

286 Pages·2010·122.68 MB·English

by  Erik Seedhouse

Prepare for Launch
ehT Astronaut Training Process
Erik Seedhouse
Prepare for Launch
The Astronaut Training Process
Published in association with
RP
~Springer xarP si Publishing
Chichester, KU
Dr Erik Seedhouse, ,.S.I.B.F .A.M.sA
Milton
Ontario
Canada
-REGNIRPS SIXARP SKOOB NI ECAPS NOITAROLPXE
TCEJBUS ADVISORY EDITOR: John ,nosaM ,.E.B.M ,.cS.B M . ,.cS .D.hP
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Contents
Preface ................. . .... .. ............ . . . . . ....... . . .. x1
stnemegdelwonkcA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x iiv
About eht author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx i
List of serugif . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx m
List of tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx uv
List of slenap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xx1x
List of abbreviations dna acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxx1
Section I Astronaut Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1 A brief history of NASA astronaut noitceles .. ....... . . ... .. . .... ..... 3
NASA .... .... . . .. . . . . . .. . ... . .. . .. .... ... . . .. .. .... .. . . . .. 3
Selecting the Mercur y a stronauts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Female astronauts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
From Gemini to Shuttle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Canadian Space Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2
European astronaut s election ..... .... .. .. . .. .. .. . .. . .. . . .... . . . 1 2
Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3
2 ylppA gni to emoceb an astronaut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5
cisaB qualifying criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7
Education .. .. . ... .. . . ... . .. .. .. . ..... . . . . ... .. . .. .. . .. 1 7
Health and ssentif .... .. . .. .. .. ... ..... ... .. ..... . .... .. . 1 7
Miscellaneous experience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9
Desirable qualities . ......... . . ....... . ........ .. . . . . ... . .... . 02
Patience ... . ....... . . .. . . . ............. .... .. . ..... . ... 02
Versatilit y ... . . ... . ..... .. .. .... . . . .. . .. ... .. .. . .. .. .. . 02
High achiever . .. .. .... .. .. .. ......... .... . .. .. .. . ..... . . 22
Psychological disposition .. ........ . ... . ... . . ... ....... . .. . 22
Public relations ........ .. ........... .. .... .. .......... .. 22
v1 Contents
The application process ......... .. ..... . ..... . .. . ..... . ... . ... 32
3 Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
The trials and tribulations of being detceles for the best job on and
off the Earth .. ... .. . .. ... .. . . .... .......................... 52
NASA selection ...... . . . . . . .. .. . .. .. .... . ...... . . . ..... . .... 62
8002 selection process . . ...... . . . ......... . ............... . 62
ESA astronaut recruitment campaign .... . ....... . ..... . ....... . .. 92
The selection process .................... . . . ..... ......... 13
Canadian Space Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Saint-Hubert . ......... . .. .. ....... . ....... .. .. .. .... ... 43
Halifax . .. . . ... . ... .... . . . ............ . ...... . .. .. . . .. . 93
The lanif cut ............. ..... ..... .. . ... ....... . ..... . 44
Section II Preparing rof efiL ni Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 7
4 Astronaut probationary training .................................. 94
International Space Station training wolf ....................... .. . 94
cisaB Training .... . ... . ........ . .. .. . .. .. . ....... . .. .... 05
Advanced Training .... .. .. . ..... . .. . .... .. ... . . .... ...... 05
Increment-Specific Training .... .... ..... . ..... . .. . .. . . . .. . . 05
European Space Agency .. .. . ..... . ............................ 15
Integrated training schedule ................................ 15
Phases of astronaut training ................................ 15
Advanced training . . ........ .. . . ........ .... ..... . ... .... 45
NASA . . . ..... ... .... .. . ..... .. . ... ..... . ............. . ... 95
Overview of ascan training ................................. 95
Ascan training keew yb keew ... . ....... .... .. . ..... . ....... 06
Scuba-diving .. ... .......... . .... . .. . ........ . .. . . . .. . .. 57
5 Technical assignments .. ...... . .. .. .. .. ...... . . .. .......... . ... 97
Types of technical assignments ... ... ............. . .. .. .. ...... .. 97
Space Operations Mission Directorate ... . .. ......... .... .... . 97
International Space Station Payloads eciffO ...... . . .. . .. ..... . . 08
Extravehicular Activity Project eciffO . .. . ................ .. .. 48
CapCom .. ........ .......... .. ..... ....... . .. . ........ 58
Flight Crew Operations Directorate ................. . ........ 68
eciffO of the International Space Stat ion Program Scientist ........ 68
Exploration Development Laboratory . .. ..................... 88
Russian Liaison . . . .. .. ....... .. .. . . ...... . . .. .. . ..... . .. 88
Crew Support Astronaut .. ........................... . .. .. 19
Public speaking ............. . .. . .. . . . ..... ... . .. . . .. . .. . 19
6 Types of snoissim .... ........ . ..... . ... . .. ........ .... .. . .... 39
International Space Station missions . . ......... ..... . . ..... ....... 39
Contents vu
E xpedition 1 :7 July 23rd to end of No v ember, 8002 ... . . . . .. . .... 49
Lunar missions ... .. ... .. .. ... .... . .......... . ..... . . . . .. ... 1 40
Surface activiti e s ... . .. .. . . ... .. . ... . .. .... . . . .... . .. ... 1 40
Bio-Suit . .. . . ... .... .. . . .. . . . . . ... . ....... .. ... . .. .... 1 50
ecne icS on the Moon ... .. .. . . . .. .... . .... ... ... . . .... ... 1 70
In-situ resource utili zation ... . . . . .. . .. .... .. ...... .. ..... . 11 0
Ox ygen production. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Mars im s sion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 2
Crew activities en route ....... . ........... . ..... ... ...... 11 2
Crewed initial us r ecaf oper a tions . .. ... . ....... .. .. ... . . .... 11 6
Cr e dew long-t e rm surface oper a t ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 6
Departure preparations and departure .. . ............ . ....... 11 7
Analog and virtual environment training .... . .. . ....... .. . . ... . .. 11 8
Virtual Environment Generator tra ining .. .......... . .. . ... . .. 11 8
Analogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 02
NASA Extreme Environment s Mi ss ion Operation s Pr o ject. . . . ... . 1 22
M a 005sr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 52
7 Mission training ....... . .. .. .......... .... .................. 1 72
Incr e ment-specific trainin g ... . .... . . . ..... .. .. ... . ... . .. .... . . 1 92
Crew qualification slevel . . . .... . .... . ....... . . . . ...... . ... 1 92
Emergency tr a ining a nd supplement a yr tr a ining .. .. .. .. ... .. .. . 1 03
E ur o p e an Sp eca A g ency tr a inin g ..... . ... . ....... .. . . .. . ....... 13 1
Core sel s ons .... .. . .. . ..... . . . .... .. ....... .. . ..... . ... 1 23
Rendezvous and docking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 33
Attached phase oper a tions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 43
Emergency operation s . .. .. ...... ... ...... . .. . .... . ..... . 1 53
Columbus tr a ining ..... . .. . ...... . ..... ... .. . .. .. . ... . . . 1 53
Ex p e d ition tr a in in g . . . ....... . . .. . .. .. .. . .. ... .. . . ........... 1 73
T e am ssa ignm e nt . ....... .. .. .. ... ....... .. . . ...... . .. . . 1 83
Training wolf for a generic SSI mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 83
Russi a Part I .. .. . .... .. ....... . ....... ... .. . .... . .. ... 1 83
Can a da . .. . . . ........ . ...... . ........ . .. . ...... .. . . .. 1 24
Rus s ia Part II .... .... .. . ..... . ........ .. . . . . .... .... . . 1 74
Unit e d S ta t se P a rt I ... ... ... .... . .. .. .. ...... . ... . . . .. . . 1 94
Ru ss ia P a rt III .. . . . . . .. .. . .. .. . . ... .... . .. ... . .. . . . . . . . 15 5
Unit e d St a t se Part II . .. .. . . . . ... .. ... ... .. . . .. . ...... .. . 1 36
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 27
8 Astronaut selection and training in the future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 37
Futur e crew selection cr it e ria ..... . ............ . ........ . .. . ... 1 37
Cre w comp os ition . ..... . ... .. . .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..... 1 57
E xec ption a l eles cti o n crit e ir a . .. .... .... .. . . .. .. .. . . . .. . . .. 17 6
Genetic screening . . ................. .. .. . . . ... .... . .. ... 1 77
mv Contents
Precautionary surgery . .. .. .... ..... ... . ..... . ..... . .. . ... 1 97
Cryopreservation . .. . .. ..... . . .. .... .. . ..... ... . .. . . .. .. 1 08
Future crew training .... . . ..... .... . . . ........... .. ...... ... . 118
Bioethics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
xeS .... . ......... . .. .. ................. .. . . ......... 118
Terminal ssenlli . . . . ..... . ... .. ... .. .. . .. . ..... . ... ..... 1 28
Hibernation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 38
Advanced surface exploration training .. . . ..... . . . . . . . ...... . 1 68
Bioinspired engineering of exploration systems ..... . ........... 1 78
Artificial gravity indoctrination ..... . ........... . .......... 1 49
Ref e rences .. .. .. . ..... .. . .. .. . ..... .. . . .... .... . ... .. ..... 1 69
Section III Preparing for Launch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 79
9 The spacecraft and the launch team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 99
Launch selcihev ... ... .. . . .. . .. . ... . . . .. ... . . .... .. . . ... ... . 1 99
Ares I . ..... ...... .. . . ............... . . ... . ........ . . 1 99
Ares V .... . .. . ...... . ................ . . .......... . ... 102
Spacecraft. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Orion . ... ... . . . . ..... . ..... . .. . .. . . . ... . .. . .. .. ... . . . 302
Altair . . .. . ...... . .. . .. .. . .. . ........ .. . . .. .. . . . .. . ... 602
Mi s sion profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 602
Soyuz .... .. ............ . ........ . ........ . ........ ... 802
Launch teams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 902
Launch Director ...... ... ..... ..... .... . .. . .. .. .... . . . . 12 1
Mission Control . .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. . . . ... .. . . .. . .. . . .. ... . . 12 2
10 Ten weeks and counting . .. ... .. . ............ . .. ... . . .......... 12 3
Practice makes perfect .... . ........... ... ....... . ............ 12 3
Choreographing chaos ... . .. .... ... . . .. ... . . . ..... . ... . . . .... 12 4
Marathon-integrated mis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 5
Flight surgeon physical exam ..... .. ...... ...... . ..... . ........ 12 6
P a cking for space ........ .. ......... . ... . ........ .. . . ... .. . . 12 7
Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test .. ... .................. . 12 9
Driving the M -11 3 escape tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 9
Emergency s serge procedures ..... . . . . . . .. . . .. .. .... .. . . . .. 122
Terminal countdown demonstration test. .. .. . .. ... ...... .... . 222
Quarantine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
11 The final count . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522
Launch day ... ... . .... .. . .. .. . ... . . .. .. . .. . ...... . . . ... .. . 522
Suit-up ... . ...... .. . .. . .. .. . . .. .... . ...... . .... . .. . . .. 622
Inside the Astrovan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 922
White room ......... . ......... . ........... . .. . ........ 232
Contents IX
Closeout crew ... .. .... .. .... . .. . .. .. ...... . ...... . .... 332
Behind th e s senec .... . .. . . .. .. . .. . .. . .. . ... . .. .. ... . . .. . 332
Launch countdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 432
Launch commit criteria . .. ... . ..... .. .... .. .. . .. ..... ... . 632
Communication ............... . .... . ......... . ........ . 732
Firing room ... . .. ..... . ..... . . . ... . ..... ... .. . .. ..... . 732
Pad activitie s during countdown .. ... . ... . . . .. ... .. . .. . . . . . . 832
Vaya con Dios ..... ... ... . ... ...... ......... .. .... ... .. 832
Preface
"I have always wanted to eb an astronaut. yrevE dik growing up during e ht ecaps
e car wanted to eb an astronaut. Unlike most ,sd ik ,rev ewoh I never vacillated in ym
career .seciohc I evah a diviv memory of sitting on the lounge floor, watching the
tsrif lunar landing on my parents' black and etihw no isivelet .tes Watching e ht
segami of the Saturn Von the launch pad and astronauts bounding across the lunar
surface , I devloser to become an astronaut. Only 5 ye a sr old at the emit , e ht initial
appeal for em of becoming an astronaut saw riding a rocket and walking on e ht
Moon.
sA I learned more about what saw required to eb detceles sa an astronaut, I
desucof increasingly on achieving ym dream. In 1 ,789 knowing many astronauts had
a military background , I joined the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment. Forty•
three recruits started the -72 keew basic training to emoceb a 'Para '. Just three of s u
erew eccus s .lufs I saw one of the .eerht
During ym emit in the Paras, I saw trained yb eht icepS a l Air ecivreS )SAS( in
jungle and desert warfare, made night jumps from Chinook helicopters , and jumped
out of a Hercules -C 1 03 more semit than I can remember. I also endured annual -08
km marches htiw a -02 gk pack on ym back and acquired advanced survival
techniques in the jungles of zileB e and the desert of northern Cyprus. During
operation a l deployments, I gained xe evisnet experience operating ni the e visehoc
environment of a small team, elihw under considerable and prolonged str e .ss I
oyjne d e the training lesynemmi , yllaicepse knowing it provided xe tnellec experienc e
for becoming an astronaut.
My first postgraduate eerged saw a Master's ni Medical ecneicS at dleiffehS
University. Rather than choose one of the research options offered yb the course, I
dediced to pay Dr. David Grundy a .tisiv David saw Director of e ht Institute for
Space . enicidemoiB Together , ew formulated a ecaps -efil secneics research proposal
gnisucof on head-down-tilt, the outcome of h cihw saw an a elcitr published in the
Physiologist ni 1199 . e lihW at Sh e ,dleiff I began to sucof more on sports, with the
laog of becoming a professional athlete.
On completing ym Master's ,eerged I moved on to work ni a Pulmonary Function