OtterKnow Kids EncyclopediaAstronaut training is very hard work, but it is also really exciting! Astronauts spend about two years training before they ever go to space. They have to learn many new skills to get ready for their missions.
Astronauts train by swimming underwater in a really big pool to practice floating like they would in space. They ride in special airplanes that dive to create a few seconds of weightlessness. They also learn how to fly spacecraft using simulators, study science, and practice working as a team.
- The training pool NASA uses is 40 feet deep and holds 6.2 million gallons of water.
- Astronauts also learn to survive in the wilderness in case they land far from home.
- They have to learn to speak Russian because they work with astronauts from Russia on the space station!
