Shubhanshu Shukla trains in diverse extreme environments

Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is preparing to become India’s first pilot for the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) to the International Space Station (ISS). As space travel evolves, astronaut training is moving beyond traditional space agencies, focusing more on real-life environments on Earth. One of the training destinations is Iceland. Its volcanic terrain closely resembles the lunar surface. NASA astronauts have trained there since the Apollo missions. The rugged lava fields help them practice sample collection techniques that will be used on the Moon. In the Florida Keys, astronauts have unique training experiences underwater. At the Aquarius habitat, which is located 20 meters below the ocean, they practice spacewalks. The buoyant environment allows them to simulate the weightlessness they will encounter in space. Antarctica offers a different kind of training experience. The extreme isolation found on the continent helps astronauts prepare for the loneliness of space travel. Research stations like McMurdo and Concordia Base are used to test survival techniques and even robots intended for future Mars exploration. Another training site is Hawaii's Mauna Loa, which rises over 8,000 feet. At the HI-SEAS facility, astronauts live in conditions that simulate a Mars mission for several months. They deal with isolation and learn to communicate with a delay similar to that which occurs between Earth and Mars. These diverse training locations give astronauts the skills they need for their upcoming missions. While space travel is not accessible to everyone, visiting these places provides a glimpse into the intense preparations astronauts undergo.